Short Survey _Small- and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 (Wave 3)

Welcome and consent
Q1.

OMB Control # 0693-XXXX Expiration XX/XX/XXXX

Thank you for responding to our previous surveys. The information learned was invaluable and was
developed into reports and suggested actions for businesses like yours and the institutions that serve
them. We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic may still be disrupting your business and your
larger community. Your continued participation in this study is invaluable for the development of
guidance on how businesses like yours are adapting to the current circumstances.
Please spend a few minutes filling out this follow-up short survey and Concept Mapping
Activity. In addition to the survey, there is a concept mapping activity that will allow you to
provide more detailed information about your experiences. Participation in both activities is
optional. We ask for no sensitive information and we will not identify you or your business. If your
business has more than one location, please answer for only one location. We’d like to learn about
practices taken that have helped reduce the impact of COVID-19 and factors that increased the
impacts, especially in the face of future hazard events. You may skip any questions or exit the survey
at any time.
Your time is valuable and you will be compensated for your participating. Please select

I opt to participate in the short survey and concept mapping activity (about 45 Minutes)
for $30 Gift Card
I opt to participate in only the short survey (about 15 Minutes) for $5 Gift Card
I decline to participate

Q2.

You will receive an Amazon gift card for your time. Please enter a valid email address
below in order to receive the gift card.
Email
First Name
ZIP Code of your business’ primary location

Q3.
We’d like to follow-up with you on your responses and send a report of the findings for this wave of
data collection and request your participation in future data collections. You may opt to receive
aggregate results of this activity (at the end). Both your perspective and time are exceptionally
precious, especially during these uncertain times.
Thank you for your time and participation.
The research team at NIST and NOAA
SMEResearch@nist.gov

Short Survey
Q25.
Dept. of Commerce Small- and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 Recovery
Survey
OMB Control # 0693-0078 Expiration 07/31/2022

Q26. Does this business own or rent the building?
Own
Rent
Business is run from a residential location
I don't know
Other (Please explain)

Q27. What is the current status of the business?
Fully open with the same products and services as pre-COVID-19
Open, but with fewer or different products or services as pre-COVID-19
Temporarily closed, but plan to reopen
Permanently closed

Other (Please explain)

Q28.
How would you assess whether your business is FULLY RECOVERED after an interruption (e.g.,
from natural disaster impacts and/or COVID-19)? Select all that apply
Expected gross revenues achieved
Adequate number of employees achieved
Producing/selling at the same level as before the disruption
Full repair of property damages
Full building functionality achieved
Other (Please explain)

Q29.
Based on how you would assess a FULL RECOVERY after COVID-19, how much time do you think
will pass from TODAY until your business returns to its pre-COVID-19 conditions?
Already there (Confirm when, an estimate date is OK)
1 month or less
2-3 months
4-6 months
6-12 months
12-18 months
more than 18 months
unlikely to resume operations at that level
unlikely to resume operations at all
Unsure
Other (please explain)

Q30. Since MARCH 1, 2021 has any natural hazard or extreme weather event occurred at your
location?
Yes, with severe negative impacts

Yes, with minor negative impacts
Yes, with no negative impacts
No
Unsure
Does not apply

Q31. Was your business' response to this event impacted by COVID-19?
Yes
No
Unsure
Does not apply to my business (Please provide details)

Q32. How did this natural hazard impact your business compared to similar events before COVID19?
Greater impact than in the past
Similar impact than in the past
Less impact than in the past
First time such an event impacted my business
Does not apply to my business

Q33. Was the impact greater than in the past because of the COVID-19?
Yes, COVID-19 increased the impact
No, the nature (strength) of the natural hazard increased the impact
Unsure

Q34. Is any of the following a concern to your organization as you plan for the future? Select all
that apply
Natural hazards and extreme weather events

Subsequent wave of COVID-19
Business, financial, and market volatility (e.g., supply chain disruption, operational
issues)
Other public health issues
Workforce issues (e.g., workforce safety, workforce reduction, absenteeism,
retaining/rehiring staff)
Consumer-side issues (e.g., preferences for online shopping, reductions in foot traffic,
low holiday season sales)

Q35. Please drag-&-drop to rank the following concerns, 1 being the greatest concern to your
business.

» Natural hazards and extreme weather events
» Subsequent wave of COVID-19
» Business, financial, and market volatility (e.g., supply chain disruption, operational
issues)

» Other public health issues
» Workforce issues (e.g., workforce safety, workforce reduction, absenteeism,
retaining/rehiring staff)

» Consumer-side issues (e.g., preferences for online shopping, reductions in foot traffic,
low holiday season sales)

Q36. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

COVID-19 posed the
greatest risk yet to
my organization’s
survival

Strongly
agree

Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

The impacts of
COVID- 19 will leave
my organization
unable to cope with a
natural disaster,
should one occur, in
the next year

Q37. Would you be willing to divert a reasonable portion of your budget to certainly safeguard your
business against an event like COVID-19? (Assume that the chance of having such an event next
year is 1/100)
Yes
No

Q38. From which categories you would be willing to divert budget/resources to

cover this expense?
Might
or
Definitely Probably might Probably Definitely
not
not
not
yes
yes

Inventory
Personal Savings
Non-disaster insurance
Advertising
Natural hazards/extreme
weather preparation
Payroll
"Green” sustainability efforts
Other (Please explain)

Not
Applicable

Q39. Instead, would you be willing to put this portion of your budget/resources

to the following categories?
Might
or
Definitely Probably might Probably Definitely
not
not
not
yes
yes

Not
Applicable

Non-disaster insurance
"Green” sustainability efforts
Personal Savings
Inventory
Payroll
Advertising
Natural hazards/extreme
weather preparation
Other (Please explain)

Q40.
What type of support have you received for your business during COVID-19? Select all that apply
Maintaining memberships
In kind donations related to COVID-19 (e.g. PPE, signage, etc.)
Postponement in payment (rent, utilities, mortgage, etc.)
Local shopping opportunities (e.g. gift card purchases, shop local website, etc.)
Other In kind donations (e.g. food, etc.)
Loans/financing
Regulation changes
Sharing resources/supply chain
Information
Technical support (e.g. establishing new remote working requirements, etc.)
Environmental cleaning discounts/resources
None of these apply

Other (please explain)

Q41. Who provided this support for your business during COVID-19? Select all that apply
Business associations/Chamber of Commerce
Family and friends
Banks
Customers
Federal government
Non-profit organizations
Faith-based organizations
Non-local businesses
Local businesses
Local government
State government
Landlord(s)
Other (Please specify)
None of the above

Q42.
Who has your business supported/donated to during COVID-19? Select all that apply
Employees
Students (e.g., support for virtual learning, desks, etc.)
Local businesses
Healthcare workers/Essential workers
Local charities/Nonprofit Organizations (NGOs)
Local government (e.g. response efforts, making masks, providing feedback, etc.)
Senior citizens (e.g., special hours/accommodations)
Non-local businesses
Your families

Customers (e.g., financial relief, delayed payments, etc.)
Non-local charities/Nonprofit Organizations (NGOs)
None of the above
Other (Please explain)

Q43. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements

Strongly
agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
Agree
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

Strongly
agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
Agree
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

Strongly
agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
Agree
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

My business serves
more customers from
inside our geographic
community than outside
of our geographic
community

During hard times,
members of my
community and other
businesses can count
on my business to help
them out

During hard times, my
business can count on
members of my
community and other
local businesses to
help them out

Q44. Do you feel your COVID-19 experience has provided you with an increased flexibility to quickly
adjust your capacities and actions and adapt to changing conditions?
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Might or might not
Probably not
Definitely not
Unsure (Please explain)

Q45.
Do you feel your COVID-19 experience has provided lessons for the future of your business?
Yes, these lessons will impact the actions our business takes
Yes, these lessons will impact the practices, norms, and policies of my business
Yes, these lessons will impact overall organizational rationale and context for planning
No, these lessons are worthwhile, but we do not have the resources
No, there were no worthwhile lessons
Unsure (Please explain)

Q46. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements

Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

In my business
endeavors, I can
obtain outcomes that
are important to the
success of the
business.

Strongly
agree

Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree
Somewhat
nor
Somewhat
Strongly
agree
disagree disagree Disagree disagree

When my business
is faced with difficult
or uncertain tasks, I
am certain that I can
work to overcome
them.

Q49. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Less than high school
High school graduate
Some college
2 year degree
4 year degree
Professional degree
Doctorate
Prefer not to say

Q50. Please indicate your ethnicity (You may skip this question if you prefer not to answer):
Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino

Q51. Please indicate your race (Choose one or more)
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White

Q52.
Is there anything else you would like to share at this time?

You can explain about the role of big businesses in your region in the survival and recovery of small and medium businesses
like yours, or
how you can improve your business’ resilience (your capacity to absorb, withstand, and recover from disasters in general).

Q54.
THANK YOU FOR YOR TIME & VALUABLE RESPONSES
If there is anything you would like us to know, please feel free to follow-up with us
at SMEResearch@nist.gov
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to,
nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information
collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the
information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 0693 XXXX. Without this approval, we
could not conduct this survey/information collection. Public reporting for this information
collection is estimated to be approximately 15 minutes per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the
data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to
this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or
any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this
burden to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Attn: Dr. Jennifer
Helgeson, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8603, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1710, telephone
301-975-6133, or via email: jennifer.helgeson@nist.gov
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