Corps of Engineers Civil Works Questionnaires Generic Clearance

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION-FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

(Personal Interview)

OMB 0710-0001

Expires: 30 September 2012

The public report burden for this information collection is estimated to average 25 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Executive Services Directorate, Information Management Division, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503, Attn.: Desk Officer for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Please DO NOT RETURN your completed form to either of these offices.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

1. How serious of a threat is flooding on the (Project) River to the economic well being of this part of the state?

Not at All Serious

Slightly Serious

Somewhat Serious

Quite Serious

Extremely Serious

2. How seriously are people’s lives and safety threatened by floods on the (Project Area)?

Not at All Serious

Slightly Serious

Somewhat Serious

Quite Serious

Extremely Serious

3. Should people living or farming in flood-prone areas should expect to be flooded?

They Should Not Expect Any Risk.

They Should Expect a Slight Risk.

They Should Expect Somewhat of a Risk.

Should Expect a Serious Risk.

They Should Expect a Very Serious Risk.

4. How serious a problem are floods that affect only agricultural land?

Not at All Serious

Slightly Serious

Somewhat Serious

Quite Serious

Extremely Serious

4. How adequately protected are most of the towns on the (Project) area are already adequately protected from flooding?

Not at All Protected

Slightly Protected

Somewhat Protected

Well Protected

Very Well Protected

6. How serious an impact has upstream farming practices caused for flooding?

Not at All Serious

Slightly Serious

Somewhat Serious

Quite Serious

Extremely Serious

7. How serious is the (Project Area) flooding compared to other problems in the area?

Much Less Serious than Other Problems

Less Serious than Other Problems

About the Same as Other Problems

More Serious than Other Problems

Much Less More than Other Problems

8. If you moved here as an adult, were you aware of potential flood problems when you first came to this area? ____ yes ____ no ____ doesn’t apply

9. Have you experienced flood problems since living here? ____ yes ____ no

10. How closely involved have you been with the (Project) flood control study?

(Check as many of the following as apply)

_____ reading news articles

_____ being on the study mailing list

_____ discussing it with family and friends

_____ talking with officials

_____ attending meetings

_____ writing letters

_____ other: ______________________________________________________

11. Are you receiving enough information about the (Agency) flood damage reduction study to satisfy your interest? ____ yes    _____ no

Thank you very much for your assistance. The remaining questions apply only to people who have personally been involved in a flood on the (Project Site). If you were ever involved in a (Project Area) flood, please take a few minutes more to answer these important questions.

For Flood Victims:

12. How many floods here have affected you? ____ 1-5 ____ 6 or more

13. When was the most recent flood you experienced here? __________

13a. Did you have to evacuate? _____ yes _____ no _____ partially

14. Was anyone in your home injured because of the flood? _____ yes _____ no

15. Did your home have any property damage or loss? ____ yes _____ no

16. If you farm, did you have any agricultural losses due to any aspect of the flood (such as erosion, crop loss, delayed planting, or storage damage)?

____ yes ____ no ____ doesn’t apply

17. Were you carrying flood insurance at the time of the flood? ____ yes ____ no

18. There are city levees in some parts of the (Project Area). If those levees did not exist, would you say that you would be living in the floodplain (that is, might your home be subject to flooding)? ____ yes ____ no

19. Which of the following have you experienced in your present residence because of floods? (Check all that apply.)

_____ cracks in basement walls, floor, or foundation

_____ cracking or settlement in yard

_____ water damages to house or structure

_____ water damage to contents (furniture, appliances, personal effects, etc.)

_____ storm water backup

_____ sanitary sewer backup

_____ evacuation from home

_____ transportation disruption

_____ lost income because of missed work or business closings

_____ bodily injury

_____ anxiety, mental distress

_____ disruption to your property by emergency flood fighting

_____ lowered property values

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

_____ none

20. What action, if any, have you taken in the last 5 years to lessen the threat of flooding? (Check all that apply.)

_____ participated in any type of emergency flood fighting

_____ bought flood insurance

_____ moved to higher elevation

_____ built levee around property

_____ floodproofed or modified structure

_____ none of the above

_____ does not apply: not in floodplain

The next few questions ask your opinions on some of the alternative measures for flood damage reduction being considered by the (Agency).

Although you may never be affected personally by any of these alternative measures, please answer each question as if it applied to you. Your answers will help us to understand what most people might be concerned about.

21. If a new levee or floodwall were built near your home, what major concerns would you have? (Check all that apply.)

_____ its distance from the home

_____ its visibility from the home

_____ its appearance

_____ the type of construction (concrete floodwall or earthen levee)

_____ safety during floods

_____ impact on activities around the home

_____ impact on property value

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

22. If your home had to be removed because of a flood protection alternative, what would be your single biggest concerns? (Check only one.)

_____ getting a fair price for your property and moving expense

_____ finding a good neighborhood to move to

_____ locating a suitable house or apartment to live in

_____ maintaining old friendships after moving

_____ finding good schools for your family

_____ high cost of financing a new home

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

23. If your home had to be removed because of a flood protection alternative, where would you prefer to live instead? (Check all that would apply.)

_____

_____

_____ List areas where one could move; section of city

_____

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

24. If your home were floodproofed (for example, if it were elevated or provided with basement closures), what would be your greatest concerns? (Check all that would apply.)

_____ appearance of the home

_____ change in market value

_____ change in use of the home

_____ disruption during construction work

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

25. If a permanent levee is constructed to protect Project Area some homes will be outside the levee (that is, unprotected from the river by the permanent levee). What do you think should be done about this? (Check all that would apply.)

_____ Nothing, it is the owners’ problem.

_____ Require the owners to move to the protected area.

_____ The City should buy the properties from the owners and remove the structures.

_____ The Federal Government should buy the properties from the owners and remove the structures.

_____ Other: ____________________________________________________________

(Agency) must consider the impacts that its projects) may have on prehistoric and historic resources. To help us collect as much information as possible, please answer the following few questions.

26. Do you know of any areas in (Project Area) where you can find Indian arrowheads, pottery, flakes, bones, or other artifacts? If so, please describe the general location and the type of artifacts. (This information will only be used by our archeologist during this study.)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

27. Which houses or buildings do you feel may be architecturally or historically important in (Project Area). Please give the addresses or building name.

28. Do you know of any people living in (Project Area) who are considered local historians or arrowhead collectors? If so, please give their names, addresses, and phone numbers so that we can contact them to help our cultural resources study.

The city may have an opportunity to add areas and facilities to its park system as part of the flood damage reduction project. The next two questions deal with recreation in (Project Area).

29. If the city decides to expand its park system, what facilities or areas do you think should be developed? (Check all that apply.)

_____ hiking trail _____ flower gardens _____ fishing areas

_____ picnic areas _____ play areas _____ campgrounds

_____ nature trails _____ ball fields _____ other

_____ skating areas _____ tennis courts _____ nothing needed

30. How could the city’s present park system be improved? (Check all that apply.)

_____ larger facilities

_____ greater variety of activities

_____ better maintenance

_____ better locations

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

_____ nothing needed

31. Do you carry flood insurance? ____ yes ____ no

32. If you do not carry insurance, why not? (Check all that would apply.)

_____ not required

_____ did not know it was available

_____ only buy it if a flood is predicted

_____ too expensive

_____ not important

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

33. On the map on this page, a “Census Block Number” has been colored. Have we correctly marked the area in which you live? ____ yes ____ no

If an incorrect area is colored, please circle the correct Block Number on the map, or write in your address here (for block verification purposes only):

Street:

City/Township

County

Map of (Project Area)

With Block Numbers Indicated

The next few questions attempt to discuss how well people are being informed about the (Project) study and how the (Agency) can improve the public participation process.

34. Are you receiving enough information about the (Agency’s) (Project) flood damage reduction study to satisfy your interests? ____ yes ____ no

35. How would you like to be kept informed about this study?

_____ public meetings

_____ newspaper

_____ radio and TV

_____ brochures

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

36. After the historic floods, many people expressed their frustration and need for a more permanent solution to the city’s flooding problems. What do you think would be a good solution to (Project) area’s flooding problem? (Check all that apply.)

_____ permanent new levees and floodwalls

_____ present city levees, combined with emergency flood fighting, and flood forecasting (as in (Year))

_____ channel modifications to reduce flood levels

_____ relocating most-frequently flooded structures

_____ raising and/or flood proofing most-frequently flooded structures

_____ flood insurance and floodplain zoning

_____ other:____________________________________________________________

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