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
Top of QR 149 / Hazards Center Home Page / Quick Response Index
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 13th, 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 Appendix 2 , which includes written responses and additional comments to the survey.
Agency Background Information
- What agency do you represent? 20/23 agencies represented in preliminary sample (87% response rate)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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% |
-
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% |
-
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- What information needs does your agency have for emergency/disaster
conditions?
55%-Incident information
15%-Governor declaration
50%-Other
- 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
- 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
- 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% |
- 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% |
-
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.
11 of 20 respondents provided additional comments.
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.
|