NOAA - Tropical Cyclone Impact Graphic (TCIG) Focus Groups

OMB Control No. 0690-0030

Expiration Date: 4-30-2014

Questions for Tropical Cyclone Impact Graphics (TCIG) Focus Groups

Questions for Focus Groups with Core Partners (Emergency Managers/Personnel, Broadcast Media)

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I. Introductions and Opening Remarks About Project

II. General Discussion

A. How concerned is your community about hurricanes?

B. What hurricane hazard concerns you the most? Why?

Probe for: wind, inland flooding, surge, tornadoes

C. When a tropical storm or hurricane threatens your area, do you feel you get sufficient NWS forecast information to complete your duties?

Explore any perceived gaps and suggestions for improvement

III. Threats versus Impacts

A. Do you think NWS local forecast offices (WFOs) should focus on the potential threat from each hazard associated with an impending hurricane or its potential impacts?

Provide examples of wind threat and wind impact statements

Probe for reasons for preferences

See if they suggest both (don’t mention it)

B. Do you think the focus should be on what is expected to occur (most likely scenario), or what could possibly occur with each storm (potential threat)?

IV. Regional versus Local Thresholds

A. Should each WFO establish and use local thresholds to determine potential threat levels or should regional or national thresholds be established?

Probe for reasons

IV. Tropical Cyclone Impacts Graphics (maps)

A. WFOs are experimenting with color-coded maps that illustrate what could occur related to each hazard. To what extent do you think these maps are useful?

Show Tropical Cyclone Impact Graphics maps for each hazard (4)

B. Do you have suggestions for improvement?

C. How would you use these?

D. What about the labels? Do you have suggestions for different wording for any of the levels?

After discussion of 1^st set of labels (No, Low, Moderate, High and Extreme Impacts) show and discuss alternative set (No, Limited, Significant, Considerable, Devastating Impacts)

E. Do you have any suggestions or comments about the colors used?

F. The lowest category indicates no impacts. Should it be a neutral gray or green?

Show examples of both.

V. Tropical Cyclone Potential Impacts (combined regional graph)

A. How useful would it be to have the potential regional impacts for each hazard combined into one graphic?

Show regional graph.

B. Is there anything about this graphic you would change?

C. Do you think potential marine impacts should be included in this graphic or reported separately?

VI. Summary and Thanks

Questions for Focus Groups with Community Members

I. Self-Introductions and Opening Remarks About Project

II. General Discussion

A. How concerned are you about hurricanes?

B. What hurricane hazard concerns you the most? Why?

Probe for: wind, inland flooding, surge, tornadoes

C. When a tropical storm or hurricane threatens your area, do you feel you get sufficient forecast information to know how you should prepare or respond?

Explore any perceived gaps and suggestions for improvement

III. Threats versus Impacts

A. Which would you find more useful when deciding on what, if any, protective action to take, a description of the threat or a description of the potential impacts?

Provide a wind example of each

Probe for reasons for preferences

See if they suggest both (don’t mention it)

B. When preparing for a possible hurricane landfall, which is most useful to you, a description of what is expected to occur (most likely scenario), or what could possibly occur with this storm (potential threat)?

IV. Tropical Cyclone Impacts Graphics (maps)

A. Local NWS forecast offices are experimenting with color-coded maps that show what could occur related to each hazard. To what extent do you think these maps are useful?

Show Tropical Cyclone Impact Graphics maps for each hazard

B. Do you have suggestions for improvement?

C. How would you use these? What actions would you take?

D. What about the labels? Do you have suggestions for different wording for any of the levels?

After discussion of 1^st set of labels (No, Low, Moderate, High and Extreme Impacts), show and discuss alternative set (No, Limited, Significant, Considerable, Devastating Impacts)

E. Do you have any suggestions or comments about the colors used?

F. The lowest category indicates no impacts. Should it be a neutral gray or green?

Show examples of both.

V. Tropical Cyclone Potential Impacts (combined regional graph)

A. How useful would it be to have the potential regional impacts for each hazard combined into one graphic?

Show Tropical Cyclone Potential Impacts graph.

B. Is there anything about this graphic you would change?

C. Do you think the potential marine impacts should be included in this graphic or reported separately?

VI. Summary and Thanks

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