8 to 10 SS Part B 072517

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Day 8-10 Timeline Forecast Survey and Focus Groups

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-xxxx

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.

Each of the nine focus groups will involve 5-10 individuals. Each of the potentially three rounds of interviews will involve 5 individuals for each round. From an existing list of core partner users (emergency managers, water utility, transportation, etc.), staff will work to identify specific individuals, representing a national distribution, for participation in phone interviews and small web-based focus groups.

For dissemination, staff will provide the web-based survey’s link to WPC so that it is posted on various websites. In addition, the survey will be promoted widely nationwide through other outlets such as local weather channels via broadcast meteorologists and their social media accounts and working with core users’ (i.e. emergency manager) points of contacts to utilize their local contacts and list serves. With the wide distribution, the target number of responses is 500-700 for the public survey.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

Participants in the web-based focus groups and phone interviews will be chosen by WPC staff from an existing list of core partner users (emergency managers, water utility decision makers, transportation specialists, etc.). The individuals will represent a national distribution and attendance will also be largely based on availability.

With regard to the online survey, there is no statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection used or a specialized sampling procedure. This sample is self-selected in that, the sample consists of those who access the online survey and complete it. There are no data collection cycles.

3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

The web survey sample is self-selected, in that the sample consists of those who access the online survey and complete it. The survey link will be kept open for as long as necessary to get a useful number of responses (500-700). While there is no expectation that the data will be able to be generalized, we do expect the data will be useful in achieving the objectives of the research.

With regards to the focus groups (60 participants in total), we will use various contacts as described in A.2 and B.2. to encourage participation in the focus groups. Since those who are invited to participate in the focus groups are likely to benefit directly from their participation, we expect a willingness to participate.

Those individuals (15 in total) that are unable to attend a focus group, will be interviewed.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB must give prior approval.

The online survey has been pilot tested to obtain feedback among East Carolina University (ECU) students, staff, and faculty via an internal, web-based questionnaire. The objective of the pilot was to ensure timeliness, completeness, compatibility with multiple viewing devices and browsers. The focus groups and interviews will use the same graphics and most of the same questions as used in the online survey except that the questions will be open ended and it will be a group discussion for the focus groups.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Sampling Design, Data Analysis, and Report Writing:

Kate Quigley, ECS Federal, LLC, 843-327-1114

Dr. Burrell Montz, East Carolina University, 252-328- 6086

Rachel Hogan Carr, Nurture Nature Center, 610-253-4432