BELLEVUE—Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04) reintroduced the National Landslide Preparedness Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation will help save lives, protect communities and property, and improve natural disaster emergency preparedness by targeting key gaps in science and mapping critical landslide hazards.
Following the 2014 Oso tragedy, DelBene shepherded the passage of the National Landslide Preparedness Act which funded critical programs that protect lives and communities from landslide risks. Reauthorizing this funding would help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards, update the nation’s topographical maps, and better inform public safety, national security, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resources management through 2028.
“Washington knows too well the devastating effects of landslides and communities across the country also see the severe impacts of natural disasters. We must provide safeguards to prevent future tragedies and mitigate risks when possible. This legislation will help ensure our communities are better prepared and able to employ the best science and technology to prevent, plan, and respond to natural disasters,” said DelBene.
“Our communities felt the devastating impact of landslides firsthand when the SR 530 Landslide claimed 43 lives, making it the deadliest in U.S. history,” said Schrier. “This bill will make crucial investments to further our understanding of landslides, improve our preparation for these natural disasters, and ultimately safeguard our communities.”
“Landslides are dangerous, damage our infrastructure, and can cut off access for emergency services. Southwest Washington experienced several landslides recently, including ones that impacted Interstate 5, Amtrak operations, and access to Mount St. Helens – and these disasters impact entire communities and take all hands on deck to overcome,” said Gluesenkamp Perez. “This bipartisan legislation will help our communities stay prepared and identify landslide-prone areas before it’s too late, which is an essential part of keeping folks safe.”
“Washington state is no stranger to landslides and the devastation they bring. To better prepare for these natural disasters, we need the best science and technology that ensures our communities are able to prevent and respond when the time comes. This legislation is a step in the right direction towards saving lives and protecting our local communities from the unpredictable threats of landslides,” said Newhouse.
The bill would reauthorize key pieces of the National Landslide Preparedness Act:
- Expanded early warning systems. The law expanded existing early warning systems for post-wildfire landslides in recently burned areas across the United States. It also required procedures to be developed for federal monitoring of stormwater drainage in areas with a high risk of landslides, in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
- Federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards. The law established a National Landslides Hazard Reduction program through the U.S. Geological Survey, which is identifying risks and hazards from landslides to protect at-risk communities and improve communication and emergency preparedness.
- New maps to help communities prepare for landslide risk. The law directed the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program to increase data collection and landslide threat identification across the country. Enhanced elevation data, such as LIDAR, is critical for numerous reasons—to help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; to update the nation’s topographical maps; and to inform a myriad of uses including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
- Landslide-related grant programs. The law authorized new programs to provide funding to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments for landslide research, mapping, assessment, and data collection.
- Committees that focus on landslide risks. The law established an advisory committee on landslides and creates an interagency committee to coordinate better landslide responses from the multiple government agencies with jurisdiction.
A copy of the bill can be found here.
Source: Office of Congresswoman Rep. Suzan DelBene
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
