0539 ss 120308 Part Arev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
FEEDBACK SURVEY FOR ANNUAL TSUNAMI WARNING
COMMUNICATIONS TEST
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0539

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
To properly assess the effectiveness of NOAA/National Weather Service's (NWS) Tsunami
Warning communications system for California, Oregon, and Washington, a feedback survey is
needed. This survey is conducted twice annually (each immediately following a test conducted
by NWS). The first test is conducted in a March-April timeframe, in partnership with the
California Office of Emergency Services, and only in certain coastal portions of California. The
second test is conducted in a September timeframe, in partnership with local and state emergency
management officials, and encompasses a larger geographical area (coastal areas of California,
Oregon, and Washington). This survey will allow for efficient collection of critical information
regarding the effectiveness of NOAA’s (NWS) Tsunami Warning System. Information from this
survey greatly assists the National Weather Service in identifying strengths and deficiencies of
the Tsunami Warning System (and related sub-systems), and planning for necessary
improvements. This information collection supports Public Law 109-424, the Tsunami Warning
and Education Act, specifically Section 3 (1): “to improve tsunami detection, forecasting,
warnings, notification, outreach, and mitigation to protect life and property in the United
States;” since the feedback collected as part of this survey will improve the tsunami warning
process.
This request is for the renewal of this information collection. The title has been changed from
“Feedback Survey for Annual Tsunami Warning Communications Test (conducted by NWS
Western Region and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)” to “Feedback Survey for
Annual Tsunami Warning Communications Test”.
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 all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
The information is collected immediately following tests of the NWS Tsunami Warning System
and gathered and summarized by NWS personnel. Results will be used solely for the purpose of
improving the Tsunami Warning System with emphasis on related communications systems in
California, Oregon, and Washington used to disseminate Tsunami Warnings. Survey responses
will be requested from emergency managers, laws enforcement agencies, United States Coast
Guard units, the media, fire departments, state/local road departments, local (community/county)
elected officials, and the general public. Responses will be solicited for a limited period
immediately following completion of this test, not to exceed a few days. Information gathered
from this survey will not be disseminated to the public.

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As explained in the preceding paragraph, the information gathered has utility. The National
Weather Service 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. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more
information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data
that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Although the information collected is not
expected to be disseminated directly to the public, results may be used in scientific, management,
technical or general informational publications. Should the National Weather Service decide to
disseminate the information, it will be subject to the quality control measures and predissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
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.
This will be a web-based survey, to be available at http://weather.gov/test. Responses will be
counted and summarized in an automated fashion, but no statistical analysis of the results will be
conducted.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
This survey will continue to be the only formal means used to collect information regarding the
effectiveness of this annual Tsunami Warning System Test.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities,
describe the methods used to minimize burden.
This survey is not intended for small businesses. Local (county) Emergency Management
officials are among the intended respondents. The survey was designed to be very brief,
requiring only a few minutes to complete and submit.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
If post-test information is not collected from the test recipients, NOAA/NWS will be severely
limited in its ability to identify deficiencies in the Tsunami Warning System in California,
Oregon, and Washington. Without such information, it will be very difficult to make necessary
improvements to affected warning systems and processes.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
None.

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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 September 24, 2008 (73 FR 55045) solicited public
comment. No comments were received.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
None.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Personal information will not be collected, and survey responses will not be made public.
Responses will be retained for official purposes only.
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.
N/A.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Completion of this survey will require a maximum of 5 minutes for each response. Based on an
expected annual total of 375 responses by 250 respondents, and 5 minutes per response, the total
annual burden estimate is approximately 31.25 (31) hours.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12
above).
There is no recordkeeping/reporting cost.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
There is no cost beyond regular staff time.

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15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
The original request for approval of this survey was based on NWS’s conducting one Tsunami
Warning Communications Test per year. Changes are as follows:
•

This request for renewal now assumes that NWS (Western Region) will be conducting
two such tests per year.

•

Based on recent test response numbers, the estimated test respondent total has been
adjusted downward to 250 from 340, with approximately 125 expected to respond to the
first survey and all 250 expected to respond to the second. Thus, a net increase of 35
responses (up from 340 responses expected for one survey per year in the previous
request) results in a small increase of 2 hours’ burden for survey responses.

•

One hundred twenty additional responses and 16 hours originally estimated for follow-up
regarding communications/technical problems are now considered not to be needed.

Summary: There is an overall decrease in respondents (250, down from 400), responses
(375, down from 460) and hours (31, down from 45).
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
N/A.
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.
N/A.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
No exceptions.

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