Summary of S. 2775 - Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025

Purpose and Intent

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of the financial impact of significant disasters in the United States. By establishing a comprehensive database and webpage, the bill seeks to provide accessible information on billion-dollar disasters, thereby facilitating better disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Key Provisions

The bill mandates the following:

1. Database and Webpage Creation:

   • The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is required to create and maintain a public database and webpage that catalogs billion-dollar disasters occurring annually in the U.S.

2. Regular Updates:

   • The database must be updated at least biannually to reflect new information about disasters.

3. Information to be Included:

   • Each disaster entry in the database will include:
     • Estimated cost of the disaster
     • Type of disaster (e.g., hurricane, flood, wildfire)
     • Location of the disaster
     • Date(s) of the disaster
     • Additional relevant information as deemed appropriate by the Administrator

4. Visual Data Representation:

   • The webpage will feature visual graphs and mapping tools to illustrate disaster trends over time and the geographical distribution of disaster types.

5. Collaboration for Data:

   • NOAA may collaborate with federal and non-federal partners to gather and maintain data, utilizing existing resources and historical data from 1980 to 2024.

6. Inclusion of Other Disasters:

   • The Administrator has the discretion to include disasters that do not meet the billion-dollar threshold if their inclusion is deemed appropriate.

7. Maintenance of Existing Data:

   • The bill ensures that information from the previously existing disaster database will be maintained for archival and research purposes.

8. Definition of Billion-Dollar Disaster:

   • A "billion-dollar disaster" is defined as any storm or severe weather event that incurs costs of $1 billion or more in combined direct and market costs.

Affected Parties

• Public: The general public will have access to detailed information about significant disasters, which can aid in awareness and preparedness.
• Researchers and Policymakers: The database will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and emergency management officials in understanding disaster impacts and formulating responses.

Legislative Process

• Introduced: The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 11, 2025.
• Current Status: It has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for further consideration.

Conclusion

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 represents a significant step towards improving disaster management and response through enhanced data transparency. By providing a centralized resource for information on billion-dollar disasters, the bill aims to foster a more informed public and support effective disaster preparedness initiatives.