[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3998-3999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Tornado Watch/Warning Post-Event Evaluation

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before March 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Do not 
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain, Research Scientist, OU CIMMS/NOAA NSSL, 120 
David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73071, 405-325-0805, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Each year over 1000 tornadoes affect communities across the United 
States, yet very little is known about how individuals receive, 
interpret, and respond to information from NOAA relating to this 
hazard. In fact, only a small sample of tornadoes ever receive study, 
and most often those are only the largest tornadoes. No generalizable 
information on tornado warning response after real-world events exists. 
The National Weather Service and National Severe Storms Laboratory have 
designed this data collection instrument to allow for more routine 
collection of this information. Respondents will include members of the 
US public who have recently (within the previous 30 days) been in or 
near a tornado, and they will be asked questions about the ways they 
received, understood, and responded to NWS watch/warning information.
    The information would be collected by NWS forecasters using their 
Damage Assessment Tool (DAT), and also by members of the public who 
voluntarily access a web tool developed by the National Severe Storms 
Laboratory. The questions will also be included in a

[[Page 3999]]

standardized post-event survey tool that will be offered to recipients 
of Natural Hazards Center Quick Response Grants. The information will 
be used as part of a pilot study to explore methods for more 
systematically collecting post-event data in support of program 
evaluation for NOAA's tornado watch/warning system.

II. Method of Collection

    A primary method of data collection intends to gather tornado 
survivor stories through a web-based interface. Currently a web-based 
App is under development at NSSL. The aim is for this to be similar to 
the United States Geological Survey (USGS) `Did You Feel It' (DYFI) 
pages used for reporting earthquakes and feeding in to a realistic 
Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale report. Specific questions in 
the web-based App are aimed at discovering whether tornado watches and 
warnings were received, and if they were, how they were received as 
well as what action citizens did or did not take. This will help to 
define value action gaps more completely. Additionally the web-based 
App allows citizens to be involved as part of the overall scientific 
endeavor, helping scientists and researchers understand what helps 
increase survivability to tornadoes as well as what undermines it.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): [None].
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 83 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority:

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-00879 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
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