Pre-Test and Full Implementation

Wave 1: Cover letter to survey recipients
PASSCODE
Dear Seacoast Resident:
We are conducting an important survey, titled “Adapting to Coastal Hazards," about new programs related
to coastal hazards, including storms and flooding, in your region. Even if you are not familiar with coastal
hazards or even if you do not live by the water or in New Hampshire, your help is essential to ensure
that the survey results are as complete and accurate as possible.
The purpose of this survey is to collect information policy makers will use to make decisions about these
new programs. This survey will ask about your experiences and opinions related to coastal hazards and
options for managing shorelines in New Hampshire. It should take 20 minutes of your time.
Your address was randomly selected to receive this survey as part of a regional sample of households. We
invite the person in your household aged 18 years or older with the next upcoming birthday to complete
the survey. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/NHCoastalHazards and enter the Access Code printed at the
top right of this letter to enter the online survey.
We need your opinions. We cannot send this survey to everyone, so your answers will represent the
opinions of other residents in your region who are similar to you and your household. Your responses to
this survey will help inform policy decisions. Please take the time to read the information in this survey
and answer the questions carefully.
All answers to the survey will be kept anonymous. Your name is not associated with your survey in any
way, so that your responses can never be traced back to you. Of course, your participation is voluntary.
We have sent $2 to all potential participants who have been contacted to request their participation in this
study as a token of our appreciation. You may keep this money regardless of whether you choose to participate
in the study or not. Thank you for your assistance in this project. We would greatly appreciate if you could
complete the survey in the next week.

Sincerely,

Sarah Gonyo
Economist, NOAA National Ocean Service

Andrew Smith
Director, UNH Survey Center

Wave 2: Preview postcard to survey recipients

Wave 3: Post card reminder to survey recipients

Wave 4: Cover letter to survey recipients
PASSCODE
Dear Seacoast Resident:
Within the last few weeks we have sent you survey invitations, titled “Adapting to Coastal Hazards.” If you
have already completed your survey online, we sincerely thank you and you may disregard this letter. If
you have not yet completed your survey, please take a few moments to do so by completing the enclosed
paper survey and returning it in the postage paid envelope.
We need your opinions. Even if you are not familiar with coastal hazards or even if you do not live by the
water or in New Hampshire, your responses to this survey will help inform policy decisions. We cannot
send this survey to everyone, so your answers will represent the opinions of other residents in your region
who are similar to you and your household. Please take the time to read the information in this survey
and answer the questions carefully.
We invite the person in your household aged 18 years or older with the next upcoming birthday to
complete the survey. If you prefer, you may still complete the survey online at
https://tinyurl.com/NHCoastalHazards. You must enter the Access Code printed in the top right of this
letter to enter the online survey.
The purpose of this survey is to collect information policy makers will use to make decisions about these
new programs. This survey will ask about your experiences and opinions related to coastal hazards and
options for managing shorelines in New Hampshire. It should take 20 minutes of your time.
All answers to the survey will be kept anonymous. Your name is not associated with your survey so your
responses can never be traced back to you. Of course, your participation is voluntary.
Thank you for your assistance in this project. We would greatly appreciate if you could complete the
survey in the next week.

Sincerely,

Sarah Gonyo
Economist, NOAA National Ocean Service

Andrew Smith
Director, UNH Survey Center

Wave 5: Post card final reminder to survey recipients

Wave 6: Cover letter to recipients of the non-response questionnaire
Dear Seacoast Resident:
Within the last week a survey, titled “Adapting to Coastal Hazards,” was mailed to you concerning new
programs related to coastal hazards in your region. Through a random process, your address was selected
to receive the survey. Our records indicate that you did not return the completed survey.
While we are no longer asking that you complete the full survey, a brief questionnaire is enclosed with
this letter. We ask the household resident aged 18 or older who has the next upcoming birthday to
complete the survey and mail it back as soon as possible using the self-addressed stamped envelope. It
should take no more than 5 minutes of your time.
We need your opinions. Even if you are not familiar with coastal hazards or even if you do not live by the
water or in New Hampshire, your help is essential to ensure that the survey results are as complete and
accurate as possible. We cannot send this survey to everyone, so your answers will represent the opinions
of other residents in your region who are similar to you and your household. Your responses to this survey
will help inform policy decisions. Please take the time to read the information in this survey and answer
the questions carefully.
All answers to the survey will be kept anonymous. Your name is not associated with your survey so your
responses can never be traced back to you. Of course, your participation is voluntary.
We thank you for your assistance in this project. We would greatly appreciate if you could return the
survey in the next week.

Sincerely,

Sarah Gonyo
Economist, NOAA National Ocean Service

Andrew Smith
Director, UNH Survey Center