One-year Post-Fire Survey of Emergency Communications and Public Response to the Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Sevier County, TN

OMB # 0693-0078

Expires: 07/31/2019

2016 Chimney Tops 2 Fire Public Survey – Web/Phone

Q1. As head of household, were you at home or in the area when the Chimney Tops 2 fire occurred in Sevier County in November, 2016?

YES NO Other, please explain _____________________________

If NO, close the survey; Say “Thank you for your time!”

Q2-Q6 relate to your understanding and actions before the Chimney Tops 2 fire.

Q2. Before the Chimney Tops 2 fire, did you know that wildfires could be a problem in your community?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Other, please explain _________________________

Q3. Before the Chimney Tops 2 fire, how would you have described the possibility that a wildfire would threaten your property, on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies “no possibility at all” and 5 signifies “a very good possibility”? (Select only one)

*”Property” is defined here as the residence/home and surrounding land.

No possibility at all (that a wildfire would threaten my property)			Very good possibility (that a wildfire would threaten my property)
1	2	3	4	5

Q4. Prior to the Chimney Tops 2 fire, had you or others (e.g., family, friends, businesses) taken any measures to protect your residence from wildfires? (Select all that apply)

1. No measures were taken

2. Cleared/removed fuel sources from property

3. Moved fuel sources (e.g., woodpiles, gazebos, mulch/combustible ground cover, etc.) further away from house (but still on property)

4. Installed sprinkler system (or other fire protection system) on or nearby house

5. Modified residential structure

6. Other, please explain _________________________

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q5. Did you have a household emergency plan for wildfires in place before the Chimney Tops 2 fire?

1. Yes (Go to Q6)

2. No (Go to Q7)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q6. If yes, what was the ultimate goal of this household emergency plan? (Select only one)

1. The plan was for my family/me to evacuate (leave and travel to a different/safer place) before the fire spread to my house

2. The plan was for my family/me to stay in place

3. Other, please explain _________________________

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q7. Before the Chimney Tops 2 fire, how many times in the past 10 years (decade) did you evacuate your home/neighborhood/workplace (or other location) because of a wildfire? (Select only one)

Here, “evacuate” means to leave and travel to a different/safer place

0 = 0 times (I never evacuated before the Chimney Tops 2 fire)

1. 1 time

2. 2-3 times

3. 4-5 times

4. 6+ times

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q8-Q9 relate to your home or place of residence at the time of the 2016 Chimney Top 2 fire (November 2016).

Q8. How long had you lived at that residence? (Select only one)

1. Less than 1 year

2. 1-2 years

3. 3-4 years

4. 5-10 years

5. 10+ years

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q9. Did you own or rent that residence? (Select only one)

1. Rent

2. Own

3. Other (Specify: ___________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

The next set of questions asks about things in the time period between when the Chimney Tops 2 fire was first detected in the Great Smoke Mountains on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 until it spread into Sevier County on Monday, November 28, 2016.

Q10. In this time period, did you receive any warnings about a wildfire occurring that could threaten your town/city or residential area?

Note: A warning includes any information (official or unofficial) from the government, media, or personal contacts such as friends, relatives or co-workers.

1= Yes (Go to Q11)

2= No (Go to Q34)

Q11. If yes, think back to that very first warning your received, how would you characterize this first warning? (Select only one)

1. Official (or mandatory) order to evacuate

2. Recommendation (or voluntary order) to evacuate

3. Informational only

4. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q12. What was the content of the first warning? (Select all that apply)

1. Information about the wildfire’s location

2. Information about wildfire’s severity

3. Information about the wildfire’s expected time of arrival at your location

4. Information about available time for evacuation

5. Information about what protective actions to take

6. Information on the status of evacuation routes from the community

7. Other (Specify:_____________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q13. How was this first warning communicated to you? (Select all that apply)

1. Telephone (landline or cell phone) with a recorded message

2. Telephone (landline or cell phone) with a live person

3. Text message – on a mobile communication device such as a cell phone

4. Internet – an email

5. Internet – social media, such as Twitter or Facebook

6. Internet – a website (including streaming TV, Radio)

7. Face-to-face (in-person)

8. A loudspeaker or public address system

9. Television

10. Radio

11. Tone alert national weather service radio (NOAA Weather Radio)

12. Outdoor warning siren

13. Other (Specify: _______________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q14. Still thinking about that first warning, who was that warning from? (Select all that apply)

1. Police or fire department

2. Sheriff’s office

3. Emergency management agency

4. Governor’s office

5. Federal agency (e.g., National Weather Service or U.S. Forest Service)

6. Family member or other relative

7. Neighbor or friend

8. Coworker

9. TV, radio, or internet broadcaster

10. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q15. Where were you when you received this first warning? (Select one only)

1. At home

2. At a relative’s or friend’s place

3. At work

4. In transit – e.g., in a vehicle, public transit, biking, walking, etc.

5. Engaged in an indoor activity, outside of home or work (e.g., shopping)

6. Engaged in an outdoor activity, away from home or work (e.g., sports)

7. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q16. Please provide the ZIP code that best describes where you were when you received your first warning? (enter 5-digit ZIP code in the box provided)

INPUT: Zip code for the location ____________________

Q17. What day did you receive your first warning? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Date: (Month/Day/Year)

Q18. What time of day did you receive your first warning? Please indicate the time as accurately as possible.

Select one: ­­Morning (from 12:01 am to 11:59 am); Afternoon (from 12:00 pm to 5:59 pm); Evening (from 6 pm to 11:59 pm)

The following two questions ask about what you thought when you received your first warning.

Q19. After receiving the first warning, how much would you say you believed each of the following things on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “did not believe” and 5 represents “fully believed?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Did not believe			Fully believed
A.	The fire would spread to my neighborhood	1	2	3	4	5
B.	My neighborhood would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5
C.	My home would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5

Q20. After receiving the first warning, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “not likely” and 5 represents “extremely likely?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Not likely			Extremely likely
A.	I might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
B.	Other people/pets/livestock might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
C.	I might die	1	2	3	4	5
D.	Other people/pets/livestock might die	1	2	3	4	5

Q21. What was your immediate reaction to the first warning? (Select only one)

1. No reaction; I continued my activities

2. I waited for more information

3. I tried to find more information

4. I started preparing to act, and then waited for further information

5. I took action immediately (e.g., evacuated/left the location, defended my property, took shelter, etc.)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q22. After receiving your first warning, but before you either began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, did you receive or seek out any additional warnings about a fire occurring that could threaten your town/city or residential area?

(Reminder: warnings include any information [official or unofficial] from the government, media, or personal contacts such as friends, relatives or co-workers)

1= Yes (Go to Q23)

2= No (Go to Q27)

Q23. How would you characterize these additional warnings? (Select all that apply)

1. Official (or mandatory) order to evacuate

2. Recommendation (or voluntary order) to evacuate

3. Informational only

4. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Q24. What was the content of the additional warnings? (Select all that apply)

1. Information about the wildfire’s location

2. Information about wildfire’s severity

3. Information about the wildfire’s time of arrival at your location

4. Information about available time for evacuation

5. Information about what protective actions to take

6. Information on the status of evacuation routes from the community

7. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q25. Who were these additional warnings from? (Select all that apply)

1. Police or fire department

2. Sheriff’s office

3. Emergency management agency

4. Governor’s office

5. Federal agency (e.g., National Weather Service or U.S. Forest Service)

6. Family member or other relative

7. Neighbor or friend

8. Coworker

9. TV, radio, or internet broadcaster

10. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q26. How did you receive these additional warnings? (Select all that apply)

1. Telephone (landline or cell phone) with a recorded message

2. Telephone (landline or cell phone) with a live person

3. Text message – on a mobile communication device such as a cell phone

4. Internet – an email

5. Internet – social media, such as Twitter or Facebook

6. Internet – a website (including streaming TV, Radio)

7. Face-to-face (in-person)

8. A loudspeaker or public address system

9. Television

10. Radio

11. Tone alert national weather service radio (NOAA Weather Radio)

12. Outdoor warning siren

13. Other (Specify: _______________________________________________)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q27. Before you either began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, did you receive any information about the Chimney Tops 2 fire from the fire itself, e.g., seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling the fire such as flames, smoke, embers, etc.?

1= Yes (Go to Q28)

2= No (Go to Q43)

Q28. What did you see, hear, feel or smell from the fire (also known as “fire cues”)? (Select all that apply)

1. Flames

2. Embers (i.e., small or larger pieces of burning or glowing materials flying past your property or landing on your property)

3. Smoke

4. Winds

5. Heat

6. Other __________

Q29. What day did you receive these cues? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Date: (Month/Day/Year)

Q30. What time of day did you receive these cues? Please indicate the time of day as accurately as possible.

Select one: ­­Morning (from 12:01 am to 11:59 am); Afternoon (from 12:00 pm to 5:59 pm); Evening (from 6 pm to 11:59 pm)

Q31. After receiving those fire cues, how much would you say you believed each of the following things on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “did not believe” and 5 represents “fully believed?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Did not believe			Fully believed
A.	The fire would spread to my neighborhood	1	2	3	4	5
B.	My neighborhood would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5
C.	My home would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5

Q32. After receiving those fire cues, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “not likely” and 5 represents “extremely likely?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Not likely			Extremely likely
A	I might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
B.	Other people/pets/livestock might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
C.	I might die	1	2	3	4	5
D.	Other people/pets/livestock might die	1	2	3	4	5

Q33. What was your immediate reaction to these fire cues? (Select only one)

1. No reaction; I continued my activities

2. I waited for more information

3. I tried to find more information

4. I started preparing to act, and then waited for further information

5. I took action immediately (e.g., evacuated/left the location, defended my property, took shelter, etc.)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

(After any response to this question, Go to Q43)

Q34. If no, did you receive any information about the Chimney Tops 2 fire from the fire itself before you either began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate.

Information from the fire can include seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling the fire such as flames, smoke, embers, etc.?

1= Yes (Go to Q35)

2= No (Go to Q43)

Q35. If yes, what did you see, hear, feel or smell from the fire (also known as “fire cues”)? (Select all that apply)

1. Flames

2. Embers (i.e., small or larger pieces of burning or glowing materials flying past your property or landing on your property)

3. Smoke

4. Winds

5. Heat

6. Other __________

Q36. Where were you when you received those fire cues? (Select only one)

1. At home

2. At a relative’s or friend’s place

3. At work

4. In transit – e.g., in a vehicle, public transit, biking, walking, etc.

5. Engaged in an indoor activity, outside of home or work (e.g., shopping)

6. Engaged in an outdoor activity, away from home or work (e.g., sports)

7. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q37. Please provide the ZIP code that best describes where you were when you received those fire cues? (enter 5-digit ZIP code in the box provided)

INPUT: Zip code for the location ____________________

Q38. What day did you perceive those fire cues? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Date: (Month/Day/Year)

­­

Q39. What time of day did you perceive those fire cues? Please indicate the time as accurately as possible.

­­Select one: ­­Morning (from 12:01 am to 11:59 am); Afternoon (from 12:00 pm to 5:59 pm); Evening (from 6 pm to 11:59 pm)

Q40. After receiving those fire cues, how much would you say you believed each of the following things on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “did not believe” and 5 represents “fully believed?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Did not believe			Fully believed
A.	The fire would spread to my neighborhood	1	2	3	4	5
B.	My neighborhood would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5
C.	My home would be damaged/destroyed by fire	1	2	3	4	5

Q41. After receiving those fire cues, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “not likely” and 5 represents “extremely likely?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Not likely			Extremely likely
A	I might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
B.	Other people/pets/livestock might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
C.	I might die	1	2	3	4	5
D.	Other people/pets/livestock might die	1	2	3	4	5

Q42. What was your immediate reaction to the fire cues? (Select only one)

1. No reaction; I continued my activities

2. I waited for more information

3. I tried to find more information

4. I started preparing to act, and then waited for further information

5. I took action immediately (e.g., evacuated/left the location, defended my property, took shelter, etc.)

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q43. Before you either began your evacuation or decided not to evacuate, how many total warnings did you receive about the Chimney Tops 2 fire that you would classify as “official or mandatory evacuation warnings”? (Select only one)

1. 0 (none)

2. 1

3. 2

4. 3

5. 4+

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q44. Who do you consider the most credible source of information about wildfire events? (Select only one)

1. Police or fire department

2. Sheriff’s office

3. Emergency management agency

4. Governor’s office

5. Federal agency (e.g., National Weather Service or U.S. Forest Service)

6. Family member or other relative

7. Neighbor or friend

8. Coworker

9. TV, radio, or internet broadcaster

10. Other (Specify: _____________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

Now, we are discussing the decisions you made in response to the Chimney Tops 2 fire.

Q45. In response to the Chimney Tops 2 fire, what did you decide to do? (Select only one)

1. I decided to stay in place

2. I decided to evacuate (leave and travel to a different/safer place)

Q46. What day did you make this decision? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Date: (Month/Day/Year)

Q47. What time of day did you make this decision? Please indicate the time of day as accurately as possible.

Select one: ­­Morning (from 12:01 am to 11:59 am); Afternoon (from 12:00 pm to 5:59 pm); Evening (from 6 pm to 11:59 pm)

Q48. At that moment you decided what to do, how much would you say you agreed with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 represents “not likely” and 5 represents “extremely likely?” (Select a number for each statement)

		Not likely			Extremely likely
A.	I might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
B.	Other people/pets/livestock might become injured	1	2	3	4	5
C.	I might die	1	2	3	4	5
D.	Other people/pets/livestock might die	1	2	3	4	5

Q49. Which of the following best describes how you made this decision? (Select only one)

1. I made the decision (by myself)

2. My family made the decision together

3. My friends/neighbors made the decision together

4. My family/I followed a previously developed plan

5. I decided to follow what others were doing around me

6. I decided to follow instructions by an authority

7. Other ________________________________

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Now, we are discussing your actual response to the Chimney Tops 2 fire.

Q50. In Question 45, we asked about what you decided to do. Here, we want you to think about which of the following responses best describes what you eventually DID in response to the Chimney Tops 2 fire. (Select only one)

1. I evacuated (left for a safer place) (Go to Q51)

2. I stayed in place (Go to Q55)

Q51. What were the main reasons that you eventually left/evacuated? (Select all that apply)

1. Seeing, hearing, smelling cues from the fire (flames, embers, smoke, winds, heat)

2. Observing others evacuating (from TV/radio, social media)

3. Observing others evacuating (in person – seeing them in my neighborhood)

4. Was afraid/felt danger for myself

5. Was afraid/felt danger for my family/friends

6. Was afraid for my pets/livestock (or other farm animals)

7. Information about the fire (location, intensity, etc.)

8. My property caught fire

9. I was being overcome by the effects of heat/smoke

10. Police, fire or other emergency official(s) advised me to leave

11. Police, fire or other emergency official(s) ordered me to leave

12. My family, friends or neighbors, etc. advised me to leave

13. My family, friends or neighbors, etc. ordered me to leave

14. Other ________________________________

99=I don’t know / don’t remember

Q52. Between the time you received your first warning or fire cue and the time you evacuated, did you do any of the following before leaving?

(Select all that apply)

1. Reunite with family members

2. Reunite with others outside of family (e.g., friends, neighbors, coworkers)

3. Prepare family members and/or self (getting them dressed, use the bathroom)

4. Reunite with or attend to pets/livestock (or other farm animals)

5. Secure my home (e.g., prepared house by turning off gas, turning off air conditioning, shut windows)

6. Perform preparation actions (e.g., tidied up garden/outdoors, put water on the house/vegetation/landscape)

7. Secure my business

8. Pack items to take with me / load vehicle

9. Tell others what I was doing

10. Tell others about the fire/ what was going on/ what they should do

11. Inquire (ask) about what others were doing (or going to do)

12. Plan an evacuation route (e.g., travel directions)

13. Identify / secure an evacuation destination

14. Help others prepare

15. Other (SPECIFY _______________________________________________)

98 = I did not do anything after deciding to respond

99= I don’t know / don’t recall

Q53. What day did you actually leave (evacuate)? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Date: (Month/Day/Year)

Q54. What time of day did you actually leave (evacuate)? Please indicate the date as accurately as possible.

Select one: ­­Morning (from 12:01 am to 11:59 am); Afternoon (from 12:00 pm to 5:59 pm); Evening (from 6 pm to 11:59 pm)

(After any response to this question, Go to Q56)

Q55. If you did not evacuate, why didn’t you leave? (Select all that apply)

1. I was not in an area ordered to evacuate

2. I did not believe that I was in an area at risk of wildfires

3. I did not receive any evacuation messages or warnings

4. I did not think that there would be a fire

5. I did not know anything about the fire

6. I stayed behind to do my job

7. I observed others staying behind (from TV/radio, social media)

8. I observed others staying behind (in person – seeing them in the neighborhood)

9. I stayed behind to protect (or defend) my property

10. I stayed behind to take care of pets/livestock (or other farm animals)

11. I stayed behind to take care of a person (or persons) unable to evacuate

12. I did not have the resources, for example, money or a vehicle

13. I was physically unable to evacuate

14. It was too late to leave and/or it was too dangerous to evacuate

15. I thought that it was safer to stay in place

16. Other (Specify: __________________________________________________)

99= I don’t know / don’t remember

The last set of questions is about you. Answers to these questions will help us learn how different types of people receive and respond to wildfires.

Q56. Do you consider yourself male, female, or other? (Select only one). You may skip this question, if you prefer not to answer.

1. Male

2. Female

3. Other

(Note – the respondent should be able to skip this question if they do not wish to answer.)

Q57. Which one of the following racial/ethnic groups best describes you? If you identify with more than one, choose the group you identify with the most. (Select one or more). You may skip this question, if you prefer not to answer.

1. Hispanic or Latino

2. Black or African American

3. Asian

4. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

5. American Indian or Alaskan Native

6. White

(Note – the respondent should be able to skip this question if they do not wish to answer.)

Q58. How old are you? (Please choose from one of the following age ranges)

1. 18-24 years old

2. 25-34 years old

3. 35-44 years old

4. 45-54 years old

5. 55-64 years old

6. 65-74 years old

7. 75 years or older

99=Prefer not to answer

Q59. What is the highest level of education you have completed? (Select only one)

1. Less than high school diploma

2. High school diploma or equivalent

3. Some college but no degree

4. Associate degree

5. Bachelor degree

6. Graduate degree

99=Prefer not to answer

Q60. Thinking of all the people in your household, what was the total household income, including your own income, from all sources in 2016? (Select only one)

1. Less than $15,000

2. $15,000 to $24,999

3. $25,000 to $34,999

4. $35,000 to $49,999

5. $50,000 to $74,999

6. $75,000 to $99,999

7. $100,000 to $149,999

8. $150,000 to $199,999

9. $200,000 or more

99=Prefer not to answer

Q61. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status in 2016? (Select only one)

1. Employed [including self-employed], working 1-39 hours per week

2. Employed [including self-employed], working 40 or more hours per week

3. Not employed

4. Retired

5. Disabled, not able to work

6. Stay at home mom/dad

99=Prefer not to answer

Q62. How many people and pets including yourself lived in your household (or on your property) on November 28, 2016, the day the fire impacted your community? (Please provide numbers for the following; or insert numbers in the boxes, below)

____________ Children: under 13 years old (0- 12 years old)

____________ Children: 13 years old to 17 years old

­­ ____________ Adults (including children): 18 years old to 64 years old

____________ Adults: 65 years old and older

____________ Pets

____________ Livestock/other farm animals

Q63. Did you or someone in your household, including yourself, have a medical condition at the time of the Chimney Tops 2 fire?

Note that a medical condition can include a visual or hearing impairment, a mobility impairment, and/or pregnancy. If you prefer not to answer, you can skip this question.

1= Yes

2= No

(Note – the respondent should be able to skip this question if they do not wish to answer.)

(Next screen…or end with the following statement)

Thank you for your participation in this survey!

This collection of information contains Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. For this collection, the OMB Control number is:0693-0078 with an expiration date: July 31, 2019. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to be 20 minutes per survey, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attn: Dr. Erica Kuligowski, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8662, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8662, telephone 301-975-2309, or via email:erica.kuligowski@nist.gov.

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