118 STAT. 1676 PUBLIC LAW 108–360—OCT. 25, 2004 (2) The United States currently sustains several billion dollars in economic damages each year due to these windstorms. In recent decades, rapid development and population growth in high risk areas has greatly increased overall vulnerability to windstorms. (3) Improved windstorm impact reduction measures have the potential to reduce these losses through— (A) cost effective and affordable design and construc tion methods and practices; (B) effective mitigation programs at the local, State, and national level; (C) improved data collection and analysis and impact prediction methodologies; (D) engineering research on improving new structures and retrofitting existing ones to better withstand wind storms, atmospheric related research to better understand the behavior and impact of windstorms on the built environ ment, and subsequent application of those research results; and (E) public education and outreach. (4) There is an appropriate role for the Federal Government in supporting windstorm impact reduction. An effective Federal program in windstorm impact reduction will require inter agency coordination, and input from individuals, academia, the private sector, and other interested non Federal entities. SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program established by section 204(a). (3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Common wealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (4) WINDSTORM.—The term ‘‘windstorm’’ means any storm with a damaging or destructive wind component, such as a hurricane, tropical storm, tornado, or thunderstorm. SEC. 204. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the National Wind storm Impact Reduction Program. (b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the Program is the achieve ment of major measurable reductions in losses of life and property from windstorms. The objective is to be achieved through a coordi nated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at improving the under standing of windstorms and their impacts and developing and encouraging implementation of cost effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. (c) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an Interagency Working Group consisting of representatives of the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Deadline. Establishment. 42 USC 15703. 42 USC 15702.
�
