Corps of Engineers Civil Works Questionnaires Generic Clearance

HURRICANE AND TSUNAMI QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

(Mail Questionnaire)

OMB 0710-0001

Expires: 30 September 2012

The public report burden for this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Executive Services Directorate, Information Management Division, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503, Attn.: Desk Officer for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Please DO NOT RETURN your completed form to either of these offices.

Hurricane and Tsunami QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your responses will provide State and County Civil Defense with very valuable information. It may appear long, but it moves very quickly. It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to complete. There are no wrong answers and only the analysts see will them. Your responses will be aggregated with many other responses from residents around the island.

If you do not read or understand English well enough to complete the survey, please call _______ in _____ and someone will be available to help you complete the survey in your preferred language.

HURRICANE AWARENESS

Civil Defense classifies hurricanes in five categories based primarily on the speed of the winds that make up the hurricane. These are listed below:

Category 1	74-95 mph winds
Category 2	96-110 mph winds
Category 3	111-130 mph winds
Category 4	131-155 mph winds
Category 5	155 mph winds and above

As examples, Hurricane ___ was a Category 2 hurricane, Hurricane _____ that struck in ____ was a Category 4 hurricane and Hurricane Katrina that struck New Orleans in 2005 was, at its worst, a Category 5 hurricane.

1. How much damage do you think your house would suffer in a Category 1 hurricane? (Fill in the circle for the appropriate answer)

Major damage ○

Minor damage only ○

Not sure ○

2. How much damage do you think your house would suffer in a Category 5 hurricane?

Major damage ○

Minor damage only ○

Not sure ○

3. What are the primary reasons for your assessment for how well your house would hold up in a hurricane? (fill in the circle for all answers that apply)

Experience with other hurricanes ○

Construction quality of your house ○

History of damage from ______ hurricanes ○

Other reasons ○

4. If you were told that a hurricane was approaching your community, for each category of hurricane, please tell us whether you would stay at home or seek safe shelter elsewhere. ( fill in the appropriate circle in each column)

	Category of Hurricane
	1	2	3	4	5
Stay at home	○	○	○	○	○
Seek other shelter	○	○	○	○	○
Don’t know	○	○	○	○	○

5. If you choose to evacuate, where is the closest public shelter to your home?

Name or address:

____________________________________

____________________________________

I’m not sure where the closest public

shelter is located ○

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

5. Do you believe that you have enough information so that you know how to respond in case of a hurricane?

Yes, I have enough information and am

prepared to respond ○

I have enough information, but I am

not well prepared to respond ○

I am somewhat aware, but I could use

more information ○

I do not have enough information to know how

to respond ○

5. From whom have you learned the most about hurricane preparation? (fill in the TWO most important)

Civil Defense Agencies ○

Red Cross ○

School – mine or my children’s ○

My employer ○

Weather Service ○

Family and friends ○

Television and radio ○

Newspapers ○

5. What is the best way to alert you to an approaching emergency? (fill in the TWO best methods)

Civil defense sirens ○

Radio announcements ○

Television announcements ○

Internet announcements ○

Text messaging ○

Police ○

Word of mouth ○

Community people knocking on my door ○

Other ways, please specify_________________ ○

5. Once a month, the County Civil Defense tests their outdoor emergency siren system. When that occurs, can you hear it from your home?

Yes, I can hear it clearly ○

Yes, but I can barely hear it ○

No, I can’t hear it ○

5. When you do hear it, do you typically turn on your radio or television?

Yes, I immediately turn on my radio or television ○

No, I typically ignore it ○

No, but I call friends or relatives ○

No, but I get on the computer to see what is

happening ○

No, but I do other things to find out ○

EMERGENCY REACTION

5. If Civil Defense authorities RECOMMENDED that you evacuate your home because of an approaching hurricane or tsunami, how likely are you to evacuate? (mark one in each column)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
Very likely to evacuate	○	○
Somewhat likely to evacuate	○	○
Not at all likely	○	○

5. What if Civil Defense authorities were to REQUIRE that you evacuate your home, how likely are you to evacuate? (mark one in each column)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
Very likely to evacuate	○	○
Somewhat likely to evacuate	○	○
Not at all likely to evacuate	○	○

5. If you decided to evacuate and seek safe shelter from an approaching hurricane or tsunami, where would you go? (mark one in each column)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
Just move to higher ground; not a shelter	○	○
A public shelter or public school	○	○
A private school	○	○
A hotel/motel	○	○
A shelter on a military base	○	○
A house of a relative or friend	○	○
A church/religious building	○	○
A hospital	○	○
My workplace	○	○
Off island	○	○
I’m not sure	○	○

5. This is important: If a HURRICANE were approaching and you decided to evacuate, where would you go? (please be as specific as possible: the name of a building, the nearest cross streets, OR the neighborhood.)

Specifically:

5. And in the case of a TSUNAMI, where would you go? (please be as specific as possible: the name of a building, the closest nearest streets, OR the neighborhood.)

Specifically:

5. If you were at work and a warning were issued that a TSUNAMI was projected to hit your island in ONE hour, and if you were released from work, what would you do?

Stay at your work place ○

Pick up your children/spouse/other family

members, then seek a safe location or go home ○

Go straight home ○

Go straight to a safe location other than home ○

I’m not sure what I would do ○

5. What would be the TWO most important factors in helping you decide whether or not to evacuate your home?

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

5. H ow much lead time do you feel the Civil Defense authorities should give you when recommending evacuation? (mark one in each column)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
48 hours or more	○	○
24 to less than 48 hours	○	○
12 to less than 24 hours	○	○
6 to less than 12 hours	○	○
3 to less than 6 hours	○	○
1 to less than 3 hours	○	○
Up to 1 hour	○	○

5. Once your decision is made to evacuate, how much time do you need to gather your critical belongings and evacuate your home? (mark one in each column)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
48 hours or more	○	○
24 to less than 48 hours	○	○
12 to less than 24 hours	○	○
6 to less than 12 hours	○	○
3 to less than 6 hours	○	○
1 to less than 3 hours	○	○
Up to 1 hour	○	○

5. How long will it take to get to your shelter location? (record your estimates in minutes; please enter 99 if you don’t know)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
From home
From work

5. And how would you get there? (mark all that apply)

	In Case of Hurricane	In Case of Tsunami
Personal vehicle	○	○
Friends	○	○
Bus/shuttle	○	○
Government vehicle	○	○
Walk	○	○
Bicycle	○	○
Other (specify: ________)	○	○
I’m not sure	○	○

5. How many cars, vans or trucks do you think it would take to move your family to a shelter? (Please place a number in the box to the right)

5. In general, how much confidence do you have in the ability of our civil defense agencies to decide whether you really need to evacuate?

A great deal of confidence ○

Some confidence ○

Little or no confidence ○

5. In general, do the civil defense officials on your island give you too much, just enough or too little information about approaching hurricanes?

Too much information ○

Just enough information ○

Too little information ○

HURRICANE EXPERIENCE

5. Have you experienced any hurricanes in your lifetime? (mark all that apply)

Yes, I was here for Hurricane ______ ○

Yes, I was here for Hurricane _______ ○

Yes, I experienced hurricanes on the mainland ○

Yes, I experienced hurricanes in a foreign country ○

No, I have not experienced a hurricane ○

IF YOU DID NOT EXPERIENCE A HURRICANE, PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 29

5. Thinking of your last hurricane experience, did you evacuate your home?

Yes ○

No ○

I don’t remember ○

5. If you evacuated, where did you go?

I did not evacuate ○

I went to a public shelter or public school ○

I went to a private school ○

I went to a hotel/motel ○

I went to a house of a relative or friend ○

I went to a church or other religious building ○

I went to a hospital ○

I went to my workplace ○

I went off island ○

Other location (specify: ________________) ○

5. Did you experience any of the following from ANY hurricane? (mark any that apply)

	Minor Damage	Major Damage	Destroyed
House	○	○	○
Other Structure	○	○	○
Vehicles	○	○	○
Crops	○	○	○
Household Goods	○	○	○
Boat	○	○	○
Pets	○	○	○

TSUNAMI EXPERIENCE

5. Have you experienced a tsunami in your lifetime?

Yes, here in __________ ○

Yes, on the mainland ○

Yes, in a foreign country ○

No, I have not experienced a tsunami ○

IF YOU DID NOT EXPERIENCE A TSUNAMI, PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 33

5. Thinking of your last tsunami experience, did you evacuate your home?

Yes ○

No ○

I don’t remember ○

5. If you evacuated, where did you go?

I did not evacuate ○

I did not go to a facility; I moved to higher ground ○

I went to a public shelter or public school ○

I went to a private school ○

I went to a hotel/motel ○

I went to a house of a relative or friend ○

I went to a church or other religious building ○

I went to a hospital ○

I went to my workplace ○

I went off island ○

Other location (specify: ________________) ○

5. Did you experience any of the following from ANY tsunami? (mark any that apply)

	Minor Damage	Major Damage	Destroyed
House	○	○	○
Other Structure	○	○	○
Vehicles	○	○	○
Crops	○	○	○
Household Goods	○	○	○
Boat	○	○	○
Pets	○	○	○

HOUSING INFORMATION

5. How likely are each of the following to cause damage to your home (mark one in each column)

	Flooding/ Flash Flood	Ocean Waves	High Wind	Landslide	Brush Fire
Very Likely	○	○	○	○	○
Possibly	○	○	○	○	○
Very Unlikely	○	○	○	○	○
Not Sure	○	○	○	○	○

5. Do you believe you have a home that is basically safe from hurricanes?

Yes ○

No ○

I don’t know ○

5. Do you have in your home a Sentinel Emergency Alert or any other weather alert communication to provide direct, early warnings of approaching weather related emergencies?

Yes, we have weather alert communication ○

No, we do not have that capacity ○

5. What kind of housing unit do you live in?

A one story single family house standing alone ○

A single family house standing alone with 2 or more

stories ○

A one story duplex or townhouse ○

A duplex or townhouse with 2 or more stories ○

A one story apartment or condominium bldg ○

An apartment or condominium bldg with 2 or

more stories ○

A dormitory ○

5. Is your house or building mostly made of . . . . ? (please choose one)

Wood, single wall construction ○

Wood, double wall construction ○

Concrete block or poured in place concrete ○

Brick ○

Metal ○

Other material (specify: ______________________) ○

I’m not sure ○

5. Is your home owned by someone who lives there or do you rent your home?

Own ○

Rent ○

Some other arrangement ○

5. Approximately what year was your home built? (please enter 9999 if you don’t know)

5. Does your home or housing complex have any of the following? (mark one in each column)

	Emergency Power	Water Catch-ment & Tank	Anchor Cables	Hurricane Clips
Yes	○	○	○	○
No	○	○	○	○
Not sure	○	○	○	○

5. How many people live in your household . . . and do any of them have special needs that require attention or assistance?

Age	Total number of people in the household in this age group	Total number of people in this age group who have special needs and require assistance
12 years and under
13 to 17 years
18 to 24 years
25 to 40 years
41 to 59 years
60 years or more

5. Do the people who have special needs need help with transportation?

Yes ○

No ○

5. What other assistance do they require?

Specify assistance: ________________________________

5. Do you have any pets or livestock?

Yes, I have pets ○

Yes, I have livestock ○

No, I have neither ○

(IF “NO” SKIP TO QUESTION 46)

5. If a public shelter could accommodate your pet or livestock, would you be more inclined to go to a public shelter in the face of a hurricane or tsunami, or would it not make any difference?

More inclined to go to a shelter ○

It wouldn’t make any difference ○

5. What is your age in years at your last birthday?

5. How many years have you lived in __________?

5. With which ethnicities do you most closely identify yourself? (select all that apply)

African American ○

Caucasian ○

Chinese ○

Filipino ○

Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian ○

Japanese ○

Korean ○

Samoan ○

Hispanic ○

Other Pacific Islanders ○

Other (specify: ____________________________) ○

5. Do you have any of the following insurances? (mark one in each column)

	Homeowner’s Insurance	Hurricane Insurance	Flood Insurance	Medical Insurance
Yes	○	○	○	○
No	○	○	○	○
Not sure	○	○	○	○

5. Which of the following best describes your annual household income from all sources before taxes for 2008?

Less than $25,000 ○

$25,000 to less than $40,000 ○

$40,000 to less than $70,000 ○

$70,000 to less than $100,000 ○

$100,000 to less than $150,000 ○

$150,000 or more ○

I don’t know ○

5. What is your current employment status?

Employed full time (+35 hours/week) ○

Employed part-time ○

Unemployed ○

Retired ○

Military ○

Student ○

Housewife ○

5. How many cars, vans or trucks does your household typically have available daily?

3 or more vehicles ○

2 vehicles ○

1 vehicles ○

None ○

5. Finally, how worried are you that there will be a HURRICANE or a TSUNAMI in the next year that will cause major damage to your island?

Very worried ○

Somewhat worried ○

Not at all worried ○

Thank you very, very much for completing this survey; please mail it back as quickly as possible in the enclosed postage-paid, self-addressed envelope.

Your participation is critical to good emergency planning in _______.

Hurricane and Tsunami Evacuation Behavioral Study, Oahu – 2009 Page 6