Congress restores public disaster cost database taken offline
H.R. 5855 — Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 · Filed by Joe Neguse (D-CO) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Oct 28, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a public database and webpage tracking all U.S. disasters that cause $1 billion or more in damage. The database must be updated at least twice a year and include cost estimates, disaster type, location, dates, and visual maps showing disaster patterns over time. NOAA may partner with other federal and non-federal organizations to build and maintain this resource, which appears to restore a public tracking system that was previously available online but was taken down in May 2025.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to mandate public disclosure and maintenance of disaster cost data. It is a transparency and accountability measure, not a regulatory or appropriations bill, and serves the public interest in informed decision-making.
What the text implies
- Restoring a previously deleted public database signals potential prior removal of climate/disaster data from public access; this bill may be a response to that action.
- Requiring biannual updates creates an ongoing federal obligation to maintain and refresh disaster cost data, which may have budgetary implications for NOAA not explicitly stated in the bill.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Ordinary citizens gain transparent, centralized access to disaster cost data that was previously available but removed from public view. This enables informed decision-making about climate risk, insurance, relocation, and community resilience planning, and supports accountability for disaster preparedness and response.