U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittees on Research and Technology and Environment held a hearing on the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. The purpose of the program is to measurably reduce the loss of life and property from windstorms through an improved understanding of risks and impact.
The program is implemented through a coordinated effort between federal agencies, academia and private sector organizations such as the International Code Council. It supports the development, adoption and enforcement of building codes and other mitigation strategies.
The program faces issues of limited funding, according to ICC. By reauthorizing the NWIRP with dedicated funding and the resources it needs to fulfill its objectives, the program can continue to reduce the impact of windstorms on properties and communities across the country, according to an ICC release.
“From 1980 to 2017, windstorm-related natural disasters resulted in over 5,000 fatalities and $1 trillion in economic losses,” the ICC release states. “Since community resilience varies so widely across the nation, federal agencies have recognized that the focus needs to shift from post-disaster recovery to pre-disaster investments, like the adoption and enforcement of up to date building codes, which is what makes NWIRP’s mitigation research so important.”
Ryan Colker, the Code Council’s Vice President of Innovation and Executive Director of the Alliance for National and Community Resilience (ANCR), testified about the importance of reauthorizing this program with enough funding and longevity to meet its goals. The complete testimony is available here. For hearing details and other testimony, click here.
