“Every state in our country is vulnerable to wind and storm damage, North Carolina in particular,” said Jones. “As sponsors of this bill, we have really reached across party lines to join efforts in taking a stand to reduce the devastating effect of this damage. Wind and water related losses add up to almost $700 million per week in the United States today,” Jones continued.  “Saving lives, decreasing property damage and reducing the cost for federal disaster relief is a bipartisan effort that is of vital importance to Eastern North Carolina and the United States of America.”

Rep. Jones and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS) sponsored the Windstorm Hazard Reduction Research and Technology Transfer Act as an initial legislative step in developing and promoting policies that strive to reduce and eliminate losses from wind-related disasters. The goal driving the legislation is a measurable reduction in losses of life and property damage to windstorms within 10 years of the date of enactment.

Major features of the legislation include:
 

• Coordination of federal wind hazard reduction efforts through a multi-agency National Windstorm Hazard Reduction Program under the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• The development of a 10-year hazard reduction implementation plan, with an annual update of progress, laying out measurable goals to be coordinated with the appropriate representatives of state and local governments as well as the private sector.
• Establishment of a National Advisory Committee for Windstorm Hazard Reduction.
• Authorization of appropriation levels to bring the program in balance with the federally funded earthquake research program over a three-year period.  This funding includes $50 million for the fiscal year 2001, $100 million for fiscal year 2002, and $150 million for the fiscal year 2003.