This collection of information will be used to streamline and standardize information for submission and to meet the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA). The collection is a State self-assessment for disaster preparedness that will be used to respond to the congressional mandate and for FEMA to conduct national wide assessments of emergency preparedness in the form of the State Preparedness Report (SPR).
The method yields a total hourly burden of 784 hours for each of the 56 States and territories that complete THIRA/SPR, for a total hourly burden of 43,904 hours for states and territories. The respondent burden for completing just the THIRA is 408 for each of the 67 urban areas and tribal governments, for a total burden of 27,336. Additionally, all 123 respondents are asked to participate in after action calls lasting one hour for a total burden of 123 hours. Combined, the total respondent hours for THIRA/SPR, THIRA only, and participation in after action calls are 71,363 hours. This is an increase of 67,667 hours over the 3696 hours currently on the OMB inventory. This increase accounts for the additional 67 urban areas and tribal governments, and includes the time it takes the respondents to gather and provide the information, work with stakeholders within their jurisdiction to gather and verify information, fill in the form, attend technical assistance sessions, and for participation in the after-action calls. Additionally, the estimate include time spent participating in after action calls.
The one program change that impacted the burden associated with the data collection is that FEMA now requires urban area and tribal jurisdictions to complete the THIRA as a condition of receiving preparedness grants. This increases the number of jurisdictions completing that part of the information collection by 67, and thus increases the total hours burden by 27,336 hours (67 jurisdictions times 408 hours per jurisdiction).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
THIRA/SPR After Action Conference Call