# Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act of 2023

This bill is about making airports more prepared and protected against natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and severe storms. Right now, many airports across the country don't have adequate plans or funding to handle these kinds of emergencies, which could disrupt travel, cargo shipments, and emergency response efforts when disasters strike. The bill aims to change that by requiring airports to assess their vulnerability to natural hazards and develop strategies to protect their infrastructure and keep operations running during and after disasters.

The bill would provide federal funding and technical support to help airports upgrade their facilities and systems to withstand natural disasters. This could include things like reinforcing buildings, improving drainage systems to prevent flooding, securing equipment that could be damaged by high winds, and creating backup power systems so airports can continue operating if the main power goes down. Airports would need to work with federal agencies to identify which natural hazards pose the biggest risks in their specific regions and then prioritize improvements accordingly. For example, an airport in Florida would focus heavily on hurricane preparedness, while one in California might prioritize earthquake resilience.

For everyday people, this matters because airports are critical infrastructure. When an airport shuts down due to a natural disaster, it affects not just travelers trying to get somewhere, but also emergency responders who need to move supplies and personnel, businesses that rely on air cargo, and the local economy that depends on tourism and commerce. By making airports more resilient, the bill helps ensure that these essential services can continue functioning even when nature strikes, reducing disruptions to travel and commerce when communities need them most.

Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act of 2023

Schatz, Brian

Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act of 2023 This bill expands the eligible uses for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to include projects related to severe weather or natural disasters. Specifically, the bill makes AIP grants available for the improvement of primary runways, taxiways, and aprons to prepare an airport for resuming or maintaining flight operations in the event of weather events or natural disasters such as an earthquake, flooding, sea level rise, a hurricane, storm surge, a tornado, a wildfire, land instability, or a winter storm. In addition, the bill makes AIP grants available to qualifying airports for (1) planning for disaster preparedness associated with maintaining airport operations during a natural disaster; (2) acquiring airport communication equipment and fixed emergency generators; and (3) constructing, expanding, or improving airfield infrastructure that will facilitate an airport's disaster response.