U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has taken the lead as the primary Republican on a new legislative initiative aimed at bolstering the resilience of rural water and wastewater systems against natural disasters and extreme weather events. The legislation, known as the Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act, was reintroduced by Hyde-Smith alongside U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
The proposed act seeks to establish an emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program would provide grants to rural water associations, enhancing their ability to prepare for and respond to various disasters.
Senator Hyde-Smith emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Our rural water associations are on the frontlines when disasters strike, and our legislation gives them critical pre-disaster assistance to strengthen their ability to prepare and respond in these situations—whether tornadoes, hurricanes, or other disasters.” She added that it represents “a smart investment in long-term resilience by ensuring rural water systems have the tools to address vulnerabilities and train for emergencies before disasters hit.”
Senator Cortez Masto also highlighted the necessity of this bipartisan effort: “Between increasing cyber threats and extreme weather disasters, rural Nevadans are experiencing more and more challenges, and it’s critical that their drinking water and wastewater systems are optimized to withstand such events.” She noted that her bipartisan legislation aims to protect rural water utilities by ensuring they have necessary resources throughout the year.
The USDA technical assistance program proposed by this legislation is designed to aid associations operating rural water systems in disaster preparation. It includes identifying vulnerabilities, mapping infrastructure, developing protocols for disaster scenarios, and training personnel for emergency responses.
During a 2023 hearing, Senator Hyde-Smith underscored Mississippi’s reliance on its rural water associations during fatal tornado storms that caused significant damage across the state.
The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations including the Mississippi Rural Water Association, National Rural Water Association, and Rural Community Assistance Partnership.
