Appendix A: Survey Results and Survey Instrument

Quick Response Report #149 - Oregon Emergency Management:
Evaluating Interagency Communication in the Post-Disaster Environment,
Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center,
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.
2002

This survey is comprised of questions designed to evaluate the roles and responsibilities of various state agencies in a post-disaster environment. This information is intended to help OEM and state agencies understand the current status of interagency communication in a post-disaster environment. We ask that you please take a few minutes to answer this questionnaire and return it by November 13^th, 2001.

After you have completed the survey, you can fax it to the Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup at (541) 346-2040, Attn: André LeDuc. Or use the self-addressed, stamped envelope enclosed with this survey. If you would like to request a digital copy of the survey, contact Andre LeDuc at crux@darkwing.uoregon.edu or (541) 346-5833. View the written responses and additional comments to the survey.

Agency Background Information

1. What agency do you represent? 20/23 agencies represented in preliminary sample (87% response rate)
   
   
2. What is your agency's communication role during the emergency response phase? (Check all that apply)

   80%-Communicate with the public
   80%-Communicate with the media
   90%-Communicate with other state agencies
   80%-Provide services (If yes, list services):

   31.3%-Transportation
   12.5%-Equipment
   12.5%-Human resources
   50%-Technical support
   37.5%-Other
   
   
3. What is your agency's communication role in the recovery environment?

   35%-Provide information
   40%-Technical support
   30%-Response to media
   30%-Agencies and public

4. What is your understanding of OEM's role during the emergency response phase? (Check all that apply)

   95%-Alert and Notification
   95%-Communication
   95%-Coordination
   50%-Service Provision
   20%-Other
   

5. What is your understanding of OEM's role in the recovery environment?

   40%-Interagency communication
   60%-Interagency coordination
   40%-Technical assistance
   25%-Coordinate requests from local government
   25%-Coordinate with FEMA

State Agency Communication and Resource Coordination:

6. When the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) is activated,
   when would you expect your agency to be contacted?

   65%-During Standby Activation (Appropriate state agencies are notified as necessary)
   60%-During Limited Activation (May require assistance from several state agencies.)
   50%-During Full Activation (All appropriate ECC agency positions are filled.)
   10%-My agency would not be contacted (If checked, skip to #8)
   5%-Other

7. If your agency were contacted, what kind of information would you
   expect from the State ECC?

   83.3%-My agency would receive information on the incident/event.
   27.8%-My agency would be notified only that the ECC was activated.
   38.9%-My agency would be notified that the ECC was activated and informed that an agency representative should be sent to the ECC.
   11.1%-Other

8. To your knowledge, are the following mechanisms for communication
   effective in disseminating emergency information and supporting OEM/Agency
   coordination?

   	Very Effective	Effective	Important, but not necessarily Effective	Not Very Important/Not Effective	Not Used
   Telephone Operators (Routing calls to ECC personnel and providing administrative support)	10%	35%	30%	5%	5%
   Oregon Emergency Response System (Provide communications capability to contact local government, state and federal agencies)	50%	30%	20%	0.0%	0.0%
   Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (Secondary communications with ECC and affected jurisdictions.)	5%	5%	55%	15%	10%
   Email or Internet Technology	20%	15%	55%	10%	0.0%

   
   
9. Should information released from OEM during ECC activation include the
   following? 5%-My agency would not be contacted (If checked, skip to #13)
   
   

   	Yes	No	Don't Know
   Nature and extent of the emergency	94.7%	0.0%	5.3%
   Impacted or potentially affected areas of the state	94.7%	0.0%	5.3%
   Actions the public should take for their protection	84.2%	0.0%	10.5%
   Activities being carried out by government officials to respond to the emergency or mitigate its effects.	89.5%	0.0%	5.3%

   
   
10. Would your agency have a role in helping to provide any of the
    above information?

    89.5%-Yes       10.5%-No
    
    If yes please explain:

    26.3%-Technical support
    15.8%-Determine risk
    47.4%-Provide Information

11. Who should receive emergency notifications in your agency?

    47.4%-Agency Director
    36.8%-Agency Director's Designee
    26.3%-Agency Operations Center
    36.8%-Other

12. What method of communication should/would you prefer to use to
    receive this information?

    73.7%-Telephone
    36.8%-Email\Internet
    15.8%-FAX
    42.1%-Pager
    10.5%-Cell Phone
    5.3%-Nextel Radio

13. Do you have an agency/division emergency operations center?

    30%-Yes       70%-No
    
    If yes, how does it communicate with the State ECC?

    67%-Telephone
    67%-Email/Internet
    50%-Oregon Emergency Response System
    33%-Other

14. What services does your agency provide in response to a state
    declared emergency/disaster?

    55%-Resources (such as equipment/personnel)
    15%-Human Services (housing, senior services, etc.)
    75%-Technical assistance
    35%-Logistical support
    50%-Other

15. What information needs does your agency have for emergency/disaster
    conditions?

    55%-Incident information
    15%-Governor declaration
    50%-Other

16. Has your agency relied on OEM for emergency/disaster services or
    information in the past?

    75%-Yes       10%-No
    
    If yes, what kind of services or information did you receive?

    15%-Resource Assistance
    20%-Financial Assistance
    30%-Technical assistance
    55%-Information
    5%-Other

17. How does the Oregon Emergency Response System Council help
    facilitate the communication between state agencies?

    15%-Increases agency awareness
    30%-Provides direct line of communication
    45%-Collects information
    40%-Disseminates information
    10%-Shares meeting minutes

18. How effectively has information been disseminated among
    agencies pre-disaster?
    
    

    Very Effective	Somewhat Effective	Average	Somewhat Ineffective	Not Effective	N/A
    5%	30%	40%	5%	5%	15%

    
    
19. How effectively has information been disseminated between
    agencies during disaster response?
    
    

    Very Effective	Somewhat Effective	Average	Somewhat Ineffective	Not Effective	N/A
    5%	50%	20%	5%	10%	10%

    
    
20. How can communication be improved between and among agencies?

    50%-Increased training opportunities
    55%-Frequent exercises
    70%-Increased education on current policies and operations
    25%-Provide facilities
    15%-Other

Additional Comments:

Please use the space below to provide any additional comments that you may have on the current status of interagency communication in the post-disaster environment.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION
Survey prepared by Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup, a program within the Community Service Center at the University of Oregon.