FEMA's Individual and Community
Preparedness Division will engage in qualitative and quantitative
research to investigate the effectiveness of preparedness behaviors
before, during and after Hurricane Sandy. This research will inform
evaluation of existing public messaging regarding disaster
preparedness and response at the individual and household
level.
Due to the decay of the
quality, detail and accuracy of survivor memories over time, this
emergency authorization is necessary to protect the accuracy and
scientific validity of the data. This collection seeks vital
information from survivors about why and how they responded to the
threat of Hurricane Sandy as well as what skills, supplies and
information best supported them post-disaster. Only through these
experiences, can FEMA determine the utility of recommended
protective actions, assess the reach of pre-disaster education
campaigns and identify opportunities to improve overall community
resilience. With regard to the time sensitive nature of survivor
observations and the unpredictability of a disaster like Hurricane
Sandy, FEMAs Individual and Community Preparedness Division,
(ICPD) cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance process
as doing so would irrevocably jeopardize the collection (5 C.F.R §
1320.13(a)(2)iii). Research strongly suggested that newly formed
memories remain labile, or easily altered, and are susceptible to
corruption overtime. This collection focuses specifically on the
respondents state of mind, decision making and thought processes
in certain time periods immediately preceding and subsequent to
landfall of the hurricane. Loss of this data could endanger
groundbreaking work in the National Community Preparedness
Initiative, a nationally coordinated effort under Presidential
Policy Direction 8 (PPD-8) designed to increase the effectiveness
of preparedness messaging, education and outreach to more fully
engage the whole community.
EO: EO
13254 Name/Subject of EO: Establishing the USA Freedom Corps
The previously approved burden
hours were 0 as this is a new collection and the current estimated
annual hour burden is 1,138 hours. Therefore, the burden hours are
positive program changes.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.