Jefferson Reporter

Representative Gary Palmer has introduced Lulu's Law in the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming to enhance public safety measures following shark attacks. The legislation is named after Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was attacked by a shark in June 2024.

The proposed law seeks to authorize authorities to quickly deploy wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) when someone is attacked by a shark or if there are conditions indicating a potential attack. This initiative comes after another woman was attacked just 90 minutes before Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust were injured by sharks nearby.

Rep. Palmer stated, "If there is a commonsense solution to keeping Americans safe and out of harm’s way, we should capitalize on it. Had an alert gone out on June 7, 2024, the dreadful shark attack on Lulu could have been prevented." He praised Lulu's resilience during her recovery and emphasized that passing the law would help prevent future incidents.

In the Senate, Senator Katie Britt introduced similar legislation. She remarked on Lulu's bravery post-attack: “Last June, the unthinkable happened when Lulu suffered a devastating shark attack. When Lulu woke up, she said, ‘I made it’ and since then, she has only continued to prove her resilience.” Britt believes that this measure will empower authorities to provide timely information to beachgoers for their safety.

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), managed by FEMA, currently disseminates various alerts such as extreme weather warnings and amber alerts. This system would be utilized under Lulu's Law to issue shark-related alerts.