SUPPORTING STATEMENT
STORMREADY® , TSUMANIREADYTM, STORMREADY/TSUNAMIREADY™, AND STORMREADY® SUPPORTER APPLICATION FORMS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0419
A. JUSTIFICATION
This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection.
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This information collection supports Public Law 109-424, the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, specifically Section 5, which describes the development of a “community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas in the United States and its territories.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) established the StormReady program in 1999 and the TsunamiReady program in 2002 to help counties, cities and towns implement procedures to reduce the potential for weather-related and tsunami hazards. By participating in this program, local agencies earn recognition for their jurisdiction by meeting guidelines established by the NWS in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals. Information and details on the StormReady and TsunamiReady programs are located at www.stormready.noaa.gov and www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov.
Many businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and other non-governmental entities establish severe weather safety plans and actively promote severe weather safety awareness activities. The NWS established the StormReady Supporter program to recognize those entities do not have the resources necessary to fulfill all the full StormReady eligibility but actively promote the principles of the program.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with applicable NOAA Information Quality Guidelines.
StormReady/TsunamiReady are voluntary programs that provide guidance and incentive to officials interested in improving their hazardous weather operations. Jurisdictions use the application to apply for initial StormReady/ TsunamiReady recognition. Full StormReady/ TsunamiReady renewals occur every six years, at which time communities complete the application form again. The government will use the information collected by the StormReady/TsunamiReady application to determine whether a community has met all of the guidelines to receive StormReady/TsunamiReady recognition.
Recognition as StormReady/TsunamiReady entitles a community to the following benefits:
1) one StormReady/TsunamiReady identification sign; 2) authorization to use the StormReady/ TsunamiReady logos; 3) instructions for acquiring additional identification signs; 4) information concerning the notification of the National Flood Insurance Program for possible adjustment to insurance rates; and 5) inclusion on the national StormReady/TsunamiReady Website and map.
Each question asked on the application helps to determine if the applying jurisdiction meets the guidelines required to become StormReady/TsunamiReady. Specifically:
Guideline 1: Community Information. Requests the primary and secondary points of contact for the jurisdiction and identifies the location of the 24-hour warning point and Emergency Operations Center. NWS must have this information to verify the person and place responsible for the information.
Guideline 2: NWS Information Reception Equipment. This information identifies the number, type and location of redundant reception equipment a jurisdiction has in place to receive critical NWS weather information.
Guideline 3: Local Weather & Water Monitoring Equipment. Verifies the number, type and location of redundant weather and monitoring equipment used by the jurisdiction.
Guideline 4: Local Warning Dissemination. Identifies the type, number and location of redundant warning systems used by the jurisdiction to disseminate weather information to the public.
Guideline 5: Community Preparedness. Details specific community education and preparedness activities in terms of hazardous weather.
Guideline 6: Administrative/Record Keeping. Provides details /dates on how the jurisdiction and the NWS administer the program and keep information updated.
StormReady Supporter is a voluntary program offered to provide guidance and incentive to entities that strive to improve their respective hazardous weather operations. Entities will use the application to apply for a one-time StormReady Supporter recognition. The government will use the information collected by the StormReady Supporter application to determine whether an entity has met the necessary guidelines to receive StormReady Supporter recognition.
Recognition as StormReady Supporter participant entitles an entity to the following benefits:
1) a StormReady Supporter certificate; 2) authorization to use the StormReady logo; 3) instructions for acquiring identification signs; and 4) inclusion on the StormReady Supporter Website at http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/supporter.htm .
StormReady Supporter guidelines are less extensive and detailed than the full StormReady recognition. Unlike the full StormReady recognition, StormReady Supporter guidelines are not based on the size of the population and not subject to renewal every three years. The guidelines on the application help to determine if the applying entity meets the requirements necessary to become a StormReady Supporter.
None of the information on the application is distributed to the public. The only information made public is the name of the recognized community and the date of its recognition. The information is disseminated to the public via the Internet and complies with applicable NOAA Information Quality Guidelines:
Utility. Each newly recognized site is added to a graphical map of the U.S. located on the StormReady Web site (www.stormready.noaa.gov). Posting the information on the Web site provides the communities with public recognition of their status and enables the public to see what communities are recognized as AStormReady/TsunamiReady@. It also keeps an accurate, up-to-date count of the number of recognized communities.
Integrity. The procedures for recognizing a community as StormReady/TsunamiReady adhere to OMB Circular A-130. The Website is updated as each new community is recognized. The Webmaster is the only person authorized to make any changes to the site. Procedures for getting the communities recognized and posted on the Website are outlined in NWS Directives.
Objectivity. The recognitions are verified by the NWS field official who provides the name of the jurisdiction and date of recognition to the program manager and the Webmaster.
NOAA NWS will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.
The StormReady, TsunamiReady, and StormReady/TsunamiReady, and StormReady Supporter application forms are available in Word and fillable PDF format via the Internet at http://www.stormready.noaa.gov. Applicants will submit the forms either electronically or via paper copy to the responsible warning coordination meteorologist.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
This is a unique federal program. There are no other known programs that collect the information requested on the applications.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.
Application for StormReady, TsunamiReady, StormReady/TsunamiReady, and StormReady Supporter recognition is voluntary and collection will not have a significant impact on small entities. Since the information required is minimal and can be found in a community emergency manager’s customary and usual records, no impact on small governments is expected.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The program is designed to help as many communities prepare for hazardous weather situations as possible. If the NWS could not collect the information requested on the application form, it would be forced to withhold applications from communities seeking to be recognized and deny them the political and tangible benefits of StormReady/TsunamiReady recognition and possible reduction in flood insurance rates.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
None.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice published on January 21, 2015 (80 FR 2916) solicited public comment on this request for revision. No comments were received.
Comments were solicited directly from several respondents. Four comments were received:
The StormReady application is sized appropriately to cover all that
is needed to apply for recognition.
Emergency Management
Director
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
The StormReady application was straight forward and easy to fill out. The assistance of Dan Noah was an added bonus to ensure all forms were filled out correctly.
An Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Lakeland Center, Lakeland, Florida
I’ve done the [tsunamiready] form at least once and it was a breeze. The formatting is easy to click through, there is enough space for responses and it’s probably one of the easiest things we are asked to do. No problems here and we credit Ted’s organizational skills with our success in the TsunamiReady program!
Clallam County Sheriff's Office
Emergency Management Unit
Clallam, Washington
The electronic TsunamiReady form is very easy to use. I have been in the renewal phase for several years and it is so helpful to populate with our new information from where we finished in the previous application. HUGE and helpful time saver for me. The only mistake I continue to make is that I click NEW APPLICATION when I should be clicking the RENEWAL APPLICATION box. I think it is user error and not the fault of the form.
From another staff,
Clallam County Sheriff's Office
Emergency Management Unit
Clallam, Washington
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts will be provided to applicants. Each StormReady Supporter entity receives two signs to identify it as a program participant.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Data collected through this form are considered public information.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
The StormReady, TsunamiReady, StormReady/TsunamiReady, and StormReady Supporter application forms do not contain any sensitive questions as described in the PRA guidance.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
In addition to the current annualized responses and burden for StormReady, TsunamiReady and StormReady/Tsunami Ready applications – 240 applications and 480 hours, there are an additional estimated 25 StormReady Supporter and 25 hours, for a total of 265 responses and 505 hours per year.
Number of new and renewal StormReady, TsunamiReady and StormReady/Tsunami Ready applicants expected |
240 per year |
Frequency of response for each respondent |
Once every six years |
Total number of responses expected |
720 over 3 years, annualized to 240 |
Average response time per respondent |
2 hours |
Total annual burden |
480 hours |
Number of respondents for StormReady Support Application |
25 |
Frequency of response for each respondent |
One time, no renewal required |
Average response time per respondent |
1 hour |
Total annual response time |
25 hours |
Total annual burden for all types of applicants/applications |
505 hours |
These estimates are based on the experience of numerous communities over the course of the program.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).
No start-up, capital, or operations related costs are expected from this collection. The form can be prepared without any special equipment and no monitoring or sampling activities are required. Information collected by the application form provides a description of existing capabilities and infrastructure. Record keeping of these items is considered a part of customary and usual business of a community’s emergency manager.
The only cost an applicant must bear is the price of postage, if they choose to use standard mail; however, approximately 80% of applicants use the electronic form. Using an estimate of $2.00 for postage per application, and assuming that 20% of applicants (53 of 265) mail in the forms, this would equate to a total annual cost of $106.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The cost to the government of administering the StormReady program is limited to the hours that local Meteorologists-In-Charge (MIC) and Warning Coordination Meteorologists (WCM) spend at local Advisory Board Meetings and conducting site reviews of applicant communities. Local advisory board meetings typically last 2 hours. One MIC and one WCM attend. Site reviews take an average of 3 hours of a WCM’s time.
The total annual cost to the government is covered by the annual salaries of the government employees administering the program since the activities conducted in association with this program are considered to be a part of the regular duties of all Meteorologists-In-Charge and Warning Coordination Meteorologists. Using the assumptions in the table below, the dollar cost of administering the program is estimated to be $79,294.40.
Because StormReady Supporter applications are not reviewed by the local advisory boards or renewed, there are no additional costs for this aspect of the program.
Base hourly rate of an MIC |
$49.68 (GS14-step 7) |
Base hourly rate of a WCM |
$42.04 (GS13-step 7) |
Duration of local advisory board meeting |
2 hours |
Cost to government of local advisory board meeting: 2 hours x ($49.68 + $42.04) |
$183.44 |
Duration of site visit |
3 hours |
Cost to government of site visit: 3 hours x ($42.04) |
$126.12 |
Cost to government per application: ($183.44 + $126.12) |
$309.56 |
Total annual cost to the government 240 x ($) |
$74,294.40 |
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
There are no changes or adjustments.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.
The individual pieces of information collected are not published. The NWS maintains a Web page identifying the communities that are recognized as StormReady, TsunamiReady, StormReady/TsunamiReady, or StormReady Supporter.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
The expiration date will be displayed on all application forms.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
No exceptions identified.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | skuzmanoff |
| Last Modified By | Sarah Brabson |
| File Modified | 2015-03-20 |
| File Created | 2015-01-08 |