This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modernize how it responds to and prepares for extreme weather events, particularly heat waves and extreme cold. The legislation requires FEMA to establish an advisory panel of emergency management experts to review and improve how disaster "incident periods" are determined for slow-onset disasters like heat waves and complex multi-part disasters, with an interim report due within one year and a final report within two years. The bill also expands FEMA's authority to fund innovative mitigation and preparedness projects for extreme temperature events, including community cooling centers and resilience centers, and requires the agency to issue new guidance within one year covering extreme heat and cold in its disaster assistance programs and planning frameworks. Additionally, FEMA must conduct a comprehensive study examining extreme heat and cold impacts on vulnerable communities, infrastructure, public health, and emergency responders, with recommendations for improving emergency alerts, first responder training, and local preparedness planning. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the legislation.
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