Apr 13 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) invites comments to OMB by May 13, 2022 regarding the Post Disaster Survivor Preparedness Research Survey. This notice seeks comments concerning a collection to obtain information from recent disaster survivors while they have current memories of their experience to better provide necessary direction, coordination, and guidance for emergency preparedness for the protection of life and property in the United States from hazards.
The Stafford Act, Title VI, Emergency Preparedness identifies the purpose of emergency preparedness for the protection of life and property in the United States from hazards. 42 U.S.C. 5195. It directs that the Federal Government provide necessary direction, coordination, and guidance as authorized for a comprehensive emergency preparedness system for all hazards.
The economic and human toll of major disasters in the United States is increasing and historically underserved communities are disproportionately impacted. Poverty, race, limited English proficiency, age, and other demographic, cultural, and socio-economic variables can significantly inhibit people's ability to take steps to prepare. To reverse this trend, emergency managers must ensure historically undeserved communities receive critical information that helps each person take steps to prepare themselves, their families, and their communities. To achieve equity in opportunities to prepare for disasters, FEMA proposes a series of qualitative focus groups, cognitive interviews, and targeted surveys to better understand individual experiences within historically underserved communities during recent disasters. FEMA Form FF-008-FY-21-112 (formerly FEMA Form 519-0-54) is a combined instrument that contains the script and question bank for conducting the focus groups, cognitive interviews, and surveys.
This research is designed to build on and complement knowledge gained from other collection methods including the annual FEMA National Household Survey (NHS) and the FEMA customer service survivor surveys of individuals that apply for FEMA post disaster assistance in areas declared as a federal disaster.
FEMA is proposing this data collection for a three-year period in order to plan for the ability to field this research collection quickly after future events and to ensure the possibility for data trending, analyzing and measuring preparedness, tracking recovery efforts, and gauging resilience in a longitudinal manner. The ability to field research quickly has been a barrier to collecting timely survivor feedback. Most research done on these topics is for single events and locations; this three-year collection period will provide a unique opportunity for data collection for different timeframes during recovery, for comparing multiple disasters and impacts, and for potential longitudinal analyses.
The data collection has the potential to identify improvements in preparedness communication, programs that can reduce loss of life and injuries during disasters and strengthen resiliency during response and recovery. Potentially relevant improvement information will not be identified for inclusion in FEMA programs and policies without this research.
FEMA submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202201-1660-002 Click IC List for data collection instruments, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this site.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-07890
For AEA members wishing to submit comments to OMB, the AEA Committee on Economic Statistics offers "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806