[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 24 (Monday, February 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8646-8647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02549]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-21-20QN]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled ``Availability, Use, and Public Health Impact 
of Emergency Supply Kits among Disaster-Affected Populations'' to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC 
previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations'' notice on August 28, 2020 to obtain 
comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one 
comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an 
additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct 
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in 
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice 
publication.

Proposed Project

    Availability, Use, and Public Health Impact of Emergency Supply 
Kits among Disaster-Affected Populations--New--National Center for 
Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) is submitting a 
New Information Collection Request (ICR), for two-year approval. NCEH 
will conduct this cross-sectional study among two disaster-affected 
populations, at one site per year. NCEH will select geographic sites 
(e.g., city, town, region) for inclusion in the study after a disaster 
(e.g., hurricane, wildfire, flood, tornado) has occurred in the area. 
Parameters for site selection include a major or state-level disaster 
declaration for a natural disaster that affects a mid- to high-density 
area (e.g., population of 100,000 people) within the United States.
    An all-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction emphasizes 
inclusion and engagement in preparedness activities. A common 
recommendation is to promote household preparedness through the 
preparation of an emergency supply kit that can be used to shelter-in-
place or during evacuation. Lack of household preparedness is a public 
health concern, especially in medically frail populations, because it 
consumes first responders' time, taking them away from relief and 
recovery efforts, and can easily deplete community health resources. 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that individuals 
or households are prepared for a disaster if they have thought about 
and planned for the types of disaster for which they are at most risk, 
have developed a family communication and evacuation plan in the event 
of a disaster, and have assembled a complete disaster (emergency) 
supply kit. However, the prevalence of emergency supply kits across 
households in the United States ranges considerably from a community-
level low of 10% to a regional high of 68%. This lack and variation of 
emergency supply kits across households makes household disaster 
preparedness a public health concern.
    Self-sufficiency (defined as the ability to shelter-in-place 
without needing to leave your home or call for outside assistance for 
~3 days following a disaster) can help reduce the demands placed on 
first responders during critical times, which has downstream public 
health impacts. Among persons with an existing physical or mental 
health condition at the time of the disaster, having an adequate supply 
of prescription and over-the-counter medications and medical supplies 
allows people to maintain treatment and prevent worsening or 
exacerbation of their existing condition or illness. It also can reduce 
their need for emergency medical services following a disaster. The 
FEMA definition of an emergency supply kit is one that can sustain each 
member of a household with food, water, and medication for up to three 
days. However, there are several knowledge gaps and challenges related 
to emergency supply kit use and effectiveness, including whether the 
current recommendations are adequate or need expansion. We identified 
the following gaps:


[[Page 8647]]


 Lack of consistency for what supplies to include in an 
emergency supply kit: While the public can access information on what 
contents are likely important to include in emergency supply kits, 
there is a lack of information as to whether there is a standard set of 
supplies that is consistently needed across disaster types
 Lack of a standard tool for evaluation of emergency supply kit 
use and effectiveness
 Lack of information on how emergency supply kit items are used 
during or following disasters: Currently we lack detailed information 
on how households use emergency supply kit items during or following 
disasters and what, if any, are barriers to their use
 Lack of information on effectiveness of emergency supply kits 
in preventing adverse outcomes: To our knowledge, there is no 
information on whether the use of emergency supply items prevents 
adverse health outcomes. Among individuals with health conditions, it 
remains unclear whether preparing an emergency supply kit with adequate 
medications and medical supplies prevents the worsening of conditions 
or the need for emergency medical services
 Lack of data to support emergency supply kit recommendations: 
It is unclear whether having essential supplies improves self-
sufficiency and lessens the need for outside assistance

    This general lack of research on the efficacy and use of emergency 
supply kits impedes our ability to make data-driven recommendations 
regarding emergency supply kit promotion. The cross-sectional disaster 
survey and focus group(s) on the public's knowledge, preparedness, and 
use of emergency supply kits will identify and inform public health 
officials about the most useful items to include in an emergency supply 
kit, ideally across two different types of disasters.
    Survey participants will be selected via address-based sampling in 
the defined geographic area impacted by the disaster and given the 
choice to complete the survey via paper (i.e., Teleform) or online via 
a web-based instrument. Survey participants will also be recruited 
using an existing, nonprobability web panel and be directed to the 
online, web-based instrument to create a larger, more cost-effective 
dataset. Focus group participants will be randomly selected among 
survey respondents and/or recruited via targeted social media (e.g., 
Facebook, Craigslist) to provide context and enhancement to the survey.
    The estimated annualized burden is 384 hours. The estimated burden 
is based on conducting the survey at one site per year, taking 15 
minutes per respondent via the web or 30 minutes via paper survey, and 
up to two focus groups in each site taking approximately five minutes 
for the focus group screener and two hours for the focus group. There 
is no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
        Type of respondents                   Form name              Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
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General public.....................  Web survey.................             667               1           15/60
                                     Paper survey...............             333               1           30/60
                                     Focus group screener.......              24               1            5/60
                                     Focus group................              24               1               2
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-02549 Filed 2-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P