Public Response To The Oroville Dam Alerts And Warnings During February 2017

OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0710-0016

OMB EXPIRATION DATE: 12/31/2018

QUESTIONNAIRE

PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE OROVILLE DAM

ALERTS AND WARNINGS DURING FEBRUARY 2017

(Please read our letter to you inside the front cover)

LETTER OF EXPLANATION

(Please read)

About Our Study

The Survey Research Center at California State University Fullerton is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and social scientists to collect information from people in Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties about their experiences and responses to the public alerts and warnings issued during the February 2017 Oroville Dam event. The information we collect will help the nation better prepare for future dam and levee emergencies.

It’s Important that You Participate

You have been selected as part of a small sample of people asked to complete and return this questionnaire. Your participation will enable us to generalize our findings to all of the people who were asked to evacuate on February 12, 2017. Please fill out the questionnaire and return it to us in the self-addressed postage paid envelope which is attached. It should take about 20 minutes or less to complete.

Your Answers will be Kept Anonymous

All of the information that you provide will be kept anonymous. The question answers we receive from respondents like you will be grouped, and never associated with the individuals who answered the questions.

Who Should Complete This Questionnaire?

This questionnaire should only be completed if we have sent it to a home or residence of people who lived in Butte, Sutter, or Yuba counties on February 12, 2017. If not, the questionnaire should be discarded. Additionally, a person who is 18 years of age or older who is also a head of your household should complete this questionnaire. If that’s not you, please give it to the person you consider to be a head of your household.

Thank You

Agency Disclosure Notice

The public reporting burden for this collection of information, 0710-0016, is estimated to average of 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or burden reduction suggestions to the Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, at [email protected]. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

THE FIRST QUESTIONS ASK ABOUT THINGS IN THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN WHEN THE OROVILLE DAM EVENT FIRST BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2017 UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE EVACUATION MESSAGES WERE ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2017.

Q1. How many total hours would you estimate you spent watching, reading, or listening to media and internet reports about what was happening at the Oroville Dam before the official evacuation began? (FILL IN BELOW)

____________ NUMBER OF HOURS

Q2. How many total hours would you estimate you spent talking with other people, such as friends, relatives, co-workers, and strangers, about what was happening at the Oroville Dam before the official evacuation began? (FILL IN BELOW)

____________ NUMBER OF HOURS

THE NEXT QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVED AND WORKED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2017, THE DAY THE EVACUATION BEGAN.

Q3. Which of the following counties best describes where you lived on February 12, 2017? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. BUTTE COUNTY

2. SUTTER COUNTY

3. YUBA COUNTY

Q4. Which of the following cities, towns, or places best describes where you lived on

February 12, 2017? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. OROVILLE

2. SOUTH OROVILLE

3. EAST OROVILLE

4. PALERMO

5. THERMALITO

6. EAST BRIGGS

7. GRIDLEY CITY

8. EAST GRIDLEY

9. YUBA CITY

10. LOMO

11. LIVE OAK

12. TIERRA BUENA

13. NICHOLAS

14. RIO OSO

15. PLEASANT GROVE

16. ROBBINS

17. MARYSVILLE

18. HALLWOOD

19. LINDA

20. OLIVEHURST

21. PLUMAS LAKE

22. WHEATLAND

23. DISTRICT 10

24. OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

Q5. Which of the following counties best describes where you worked on February 12, 2017? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. BUTTE COUNTY

2. SUTTER COUNTY

3. YUBA COUNTY

4. SACRAMENTO COUNTY

5. YOLO COUNTY

6. OTHER (SPECIFY: __________________________________________________)

9 = I WASN’T EMPLOYED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Q6. Which of the following cities, towns, or places best describes where you worked on February 12, 2017? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. OROVILLE

2. SOUTH OROVILLE

3. EAST OROVILLE

4. PALERMO

5. THERMALITO

6. EAST BRIGGS

7. GRIDLEY CITY

8. EAST GRIDLEY

9. YUBA CITY

10. LOMO

11. LIVE OAK

12. TIERRA BUENA

13. NICHOLAS

14. RIO OSO

15. PLEASANT GROVE

16. ROBBINS

17. MARYSVILLE

18. HALLWOOD

19. LINDA

20. OLIVEHURST

21. PLUMAS LAKE

22. WHEATLAND

23. DISTRICT 10

24. SACRAMENTO

25. OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

99 = I WASN’T EMPLOYED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2017

THE NEXT QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT THE “FIRST EVACUATION MESSAGE” YOU RECEIVED ON OR AFTER FEBRUARY 12, 2017. BY MESSAGE WE MEAN INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT, MEDIA, OR PERSONAL CONTACTS SUCH AS FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR CO-WORKERS.

IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EVACUATION MESSAGE, SKIP TO QUESTION 25

Q7. Think about the first evacuation message you received aimed at people in the area in which you were located. What day did you get that message? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

2. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

9 = OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

Q8. Think about the first evacuation message you received aimed at people in the area in which you were located. What time did you get that message?

(FILL IN BELOW WITH THE BEST ESTIMATE YOU CAN MAKE)

­­­HOUR _________ MINUTE _________ AM or PM _________

Q9. How was the first evacuation message you received communicated to you? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. LAND LINE TELEPHONE WITH A RECORDED MESSAGE

2. LAND LINE TELEPHONE WITH A LIVE PERSON

3. CELL PHONE OR OTHER MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A RECORDED MESSAGE

4. CELL PHONE OR OTHER MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A LIVE PERSON

5. TEXT MESSAGE – ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE SUCH AS A CELL PHONE

6. INTERNET – AN EMAIL

7. INTERNET – SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AS TWITTER OR FACEBOOK

8. INTERNET – WEBSITE

9. FACE-TO-FACE FROM AN AUTHORITY

10. FACE-TO-FACE FROM ANOTHER PERSON, FOR EXAMPLE FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER

11. AN AUTHORITY IN THE STREET WITH A LOUDSPEAKER

12. TELEVISION

13. RADIO

14. TONE ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO

15. OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN

16. OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

Q10. Still thinking about the first message you received, who was that message from? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. LOCAL POLICE

2. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT

3. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

4. CAL FIRE

5. BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF

6. SUTTER COUNTY SHERIFF

7. YUBA COUNTY SHERIFF

8. YUBA CITY OFFICIALS

9. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR)

10. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

11. FAMILY MEMBER OR OTHER RELATIVE

12. NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND

13. EMPLOYER

14. CO-WORKER

15. TV, RADIO, OR INTERNET BROADCASTER

16. OTHER (SPECIFY: ____________________________________________________)

Q11. Where were you when you received your first evacuation message? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. AT HOME

2. AT WORK

3. SHOPPING AT A STORE

4. DRIVING A VEHICLE

5. PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE

6. PASSENGER IN A PUBLIC TRANSIT VEHICLE

7. IN TRANSIT – NOT IN A VEHICLE

8. ENGAGED IN AN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

9. ENGAGED IN AN INDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

10. AT A RELATIVE’S OR FRIEND’S PLACE

11. OTHER (SPECIFY _____________________________________________________)

Q12. Which of the following places best describes where you were when you received your first evacuation message? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. OROVILLE

2. SOUTH OROVILLE

3. EAST OROVILLE

4. PALERMO

5. THERMALITO

6. EAST BRIGGS

7. GRIDLEY CITY

8. EAST GRIDLEY

9. YUBA CITY

10. LOMO

11. LIVE OAK

12. TIERRA BUENA

13. NICHOLAS

14. RIO OSO

15. PLEASANT GROVE

16. ROBBINS

17. MARYSVILLE

18. HALLWOOD

19. LINDA

20. OLIVEHURST

21. PLUMAS LAKE

22. WHEATLAND

23. DISTRICT 10

24. OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

Q13. Were you with members of your immediate family and pets when you received your first evacuation message? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. NO

2. YES, BUT ONLY SOME OF THEM

3. YES, ALL OF THEM

9 = I HAVE NO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OR PETS

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ASK ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT WHEN YOU RECEIVED YOUR FIRST EVACUATION MESSAGE.

Q14. How believable was the first evacuation message you received on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 represents “not at all believable” and 6 represents “completely believable?” (CIRCLE ONE)

NOT AT ALL BELIEVABLE					COMPLETELY BELIEVABLE
1	2	3	4	5	6

Q15. After receiving your first evacuation message, how much would you say you understood each of the following things on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 represents “did not understand at all” and 6 represents “fully understood?” (CIRCLE ONE FOR EACH)

		DID NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL				FULLY UNDERSTOOD
A.	What could happen at the dam?		1	2	3	4	5	6
B.	The risk of flooding?		1	2	3	4	5	6
C.	What to do to protect yourself?		1	2	3	4	5	6
D.	What locations could be affected?		1	2	3	4	5	6
E.	When you were supposed to evacuate?		1	2	3	4	5	6
F.	How long you were supposed to stay away?		1	2	3	4	5	6
G.	Who the message was from?		1	2	3	4	5	6

Q16. After receiving your first evacuation message, how much would you say you believed each of the following things on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 represents “did not believe” and 6 represents “fully believed?” (CIRCLE ONE FOR EACH)

		DID NOT BELIEVE			FULLY BELIEVED
A.	The emergency spillway would break	1	2	3	4	5	6
B.	My home would be flooded	1	2	3	4	5	6
C.	My town would be flooded	1	2	3	4	5	6

Q17. After receiving your first evacuation message, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 represents “not likely” and 6 represents “extremely likely?” (CIRCLE ONE FOR EACH)

		NOT LIKELY			EXTREMELY LIKELY
A.	The message was meant for me	1	2	3	4	5	6
B.	I might become injured	1	2	3	4	5	6
C.	Other people might become injured	1	2	3	4	5	6
D.	I might die	1	2	3	4	5	6
E.	Other people might die	1	2	3	4	5	6

Q18. After receiving your first evacuation message, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 6 where 1 represents “disagree” and 6 represents “agree?” (CIRCLE ONE FOR EACH)

		DISAGREE			AGREE
A.	The message helped me decide what to do	1	2	3	4	5	6
B.	It was easy to decide what to do	1	2	3	4	5	6
C.	I was able to decide what to do quickly	1	2	3	4	5	6
D.	I decided what to do with confidence	1	2	3	4	5	6

THE NEXT SET OF QUESTION ASK ABOUT THE TIME PERIOD AFTER YOU RECEIVED YOUR FIRST EVACUATION MESSAGE BUT BEFORE YOU BEGAN YOUR EVACUATION OR DECIDED TO NOT EVACUATE.

Q19. After receiving your first evacuation message, but before you either began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, how many additional evacuation messages did you receive? (FILL IN BLANK)

____________ NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL MESSAGES

Q20. Who were those additional messages from? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)

1. LOCAL POLICE

2. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT

3. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

4. CAL FIRE

5. BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF

6. SUTTER COUNTY SHERIFF

7. YUBA COUNTY SHERIFF

8. YUBA CITY OFFICIALS

9. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR)

10. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

11. FAMILY MEMBER OR OTHER RELATIVE

12. NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND

13. EMPLOYER

14. CO-WORKER

15. TV, RADIO, OR INTERNET BROADCASTER

16. OTHER (SPECIFY: ____________________________________________________)

Q 21. How were those additional evacuation messages communicated to you? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)

1. LAND LINE TELEPHONE WITH A RECORDED MESSAGE

2. LAND LINE TELEPHONE WITH A LIVE PERSON

3. CELL PHONE OR OTHER MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A RECORDED MESSAGE

4. CELL PHONE OR OTHER MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A LIVE PERSON

5. TEXT MESSAGE – ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE SUCH AS A CELL PHONE

6. INTERNET – AN EMAIL

7. INTERNET – SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AS TWITTER OR FACEBOOK

8. INTERNET – WEBSITE

9. FACE-TO-FACE FROM AN AUTHORITY

10. FACE-TO-FACE FROM ANOTHER PERSON, FOR EXAMPLE FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER

11. AN AUTHORITY IN THE STREET WITH A LOUDSPEAKER

12. TELEVISION

13. RADIO

14. TONE ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO

15. OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN

16. OTHER (SPECIFY: _______________________________________________)

Q22. Between the time you received your first evacuation message and the time you began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, did you use any of the following to communicate with others? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)

1. FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS

2. LAND LINE PHONE CALL

3. CELL PHONE CALL

4. CELL PHONE TEXT MESSAGE

5. SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AS FACEBOOK OR TWITTER

6. OTHER (SPECIFY ______________________________________________________)

9 = I DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS

Q23. Between the time you received your first evacuation message and the time you began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, did you seek additional information from any of the following sources? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)

1. FRIENDS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS

2. LOCAL OFFICIALS SUCH AS FIRE, SHERIFF, OR POLICE

3. STATE OFFICIALS SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, CAL FIRE, OR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

4. INTERNET – WEBSITE

5. SOCIAL MEDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, FACEBOOK OR TWITTER

6. OTHER (SPECIFY ______________________________________________)

9 = I DID NOT SEEK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Q24. Between the time you received your first evacuation message and the time you began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, did you do any of the following? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)

1. REUNITE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS

2. REUNITE OR ATTEND TO PETS

3. SECURE MY HOME

4. SECURE MY BUSINESS

5. PACK ITEMS TO TAKE WITH ME

6. TOLD OTHERS I WAS GOING/WHERE I WAS GOING

7. HELPED OTHERS GET READY TO EVACUATE

8. OTHER (SPECIFY _______________________________________________)

9 = I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING BEFORE EVACUATING

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ASK ABOUT YOUR EVACUATION AND/OR YOUR DECISION TO NOT EVACUATE IF YOU DID NOT LEAVE.

Q25. Did you evacuate?

1. YES (IF YES, SKIP TO Q27)

2. NO

IF YOU EVACUATED, SKIP TO QUESTION 27

Q26. If you did not evacuate, why didn’t you leave? (CIRCLE ONE, THEN SKIP TO QUESTION 33)

1. NOT IN AREA TOLD TO EVACUATE

2. NOT IN A LOW LYING AREA OR AN AREA THAT WOULD FLOOD

3. STAYED BEHIND TO PROTECT MY PROPERTY

4. DID NOT THINK THERE WOULD BE A FLOOD

5. I STAYED BEHIND TO DO MY JOB

6. DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE MONEY OR VEHICLE

7. PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO EVACUATE

8. OTHER (SPECIFY: __________________________________________________)

IF YOU DID NOT EVACUATE, SKIP TO QUESTION 33

Q27. What day did you begin your evacuation (by begin your evacuation we mean leave your location to go to a safe area)? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. PRIOR TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

3. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

4. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

5. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

6. AFTER MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Q28. On that day, what time did you begin your evacuation (by begin your evacuation we mean leave your location to go to a safe area)? (FILL IN BELOW WITH THE BEST ESTIMATE YOU CAN MAKE)

­­­HOUR _________ MINUTE _________ AM or PM _________

Q29. Where did you go when you evacuated? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. PUBLIC SHELTER

2. FRIEND OR RELATIVE

3. HOTEL OR MOTEL

4. WORKPLACE

5. CHURCH

6. CAMPGROUND/RV PARK

7. OTHER (SPECIFY: _________________________________________________________)

Q30. In what city and state was it located? (FILL IN BELOW)

­­­­­_________________________________________________________________

Q31. How long did it take you to get there? (FILL IN BELOW WITH THE BEST ESTIMATE YOU CAN MAKE)

­­­HOURS _________ MINUTES _________

Q32. How did you get there? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. PERSONAL VEHICLE

2. FRIEND’S OR RELATIVE’S VEHICLE

3. BUS

4. WALK/BICYCLE

5. OTHER (SPECIFY _____________________________________________________)

THE LAST SET OF QUESTIONS IS ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL HELP US LEARN HOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE RECEIVE AND RESPOND TO FLOOD WARNINGS.

Q33. Do you consider yourself male, female, or other? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. MALE

2. FEMALE

3. OTHER (SPECIFY _______________________________________________)

Q34. Which one of the following racial/ethnic groups best describes you? If you identify with more than one, choose the group you identify with the most. (CIRCLE ONE)

1. WHITE

2. HISPANIC OR LATINO

3. BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

4. ASIAN

5. NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER

6. AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE

7. OTHER (SPECIFY ____________________________________________________)

Q35. What was your age on your last birthday? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. 18-24 YEARS OLD

2. 25-34 YEARS OLD

3. 35-44 YEARS OLD

4. 45-54 YEARS OLD

5. 55-64 YEARS OLD

6. 65-74 YEARS OLD

7. 75 YEARS OR OLDER

Q36. What is the highest level of education you have completed? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

2. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT

3. SOME COLLEGE BUT NO DEGREE

4. ASSOCIATE DEGREE

5. BACHELOR DEGREE

6. GRADUATE DEGREE

Q37. Thinking of all the people in your household, was the total household income from

all sources in 2016? Please include your own income as well. (CIRCLE ONE)

1. LESS THAN $15,000

2. $15,000 TO $24,999

3. $25,000 TO $34,999

4. $35,000 TO $49,999

5. $50,000 TO $74,999

6. $75,000 TO $99,999

7. $100,000 TO $149,999

8. $150,000 TO $199,999

9. $200,000 OR MORE

Q38. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status? (CIRCLE ONE)

1. EMPLOYED, WORKING 1-39 HOURS PER WEEK

2. EMPLOYED, WORKING 40 OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK

3. NOT EMPLOYED, LOOKING FOR WORK

4. NOT EMPLOYED, NOT LOOKING FOR WORK

5. RETIRED

6. DISABLED, NOT ABLE TO WORK

Q39. How many people and pets including yourself lived in your household on February 12, 2017, the day the evacuation was ordered? (INSERT NUMBERS IN BLANKS BELOW)

____________ CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18

­­ ____________ ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 18 AND UNDER THE AGE OF 65

____________ ADULTS AGE 65 AND OLDER

____________ PETS

PLEASE USE THE SPACE BELOW TO TELL US ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE OROVILLE DAM EVENT IN FEBRUARY 2017.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. The Survey Research Center at California State University, Fullerton can be reached by phone at (657) 278-3185.

END