Most questions require only a checkmark to indicate your answer. If you check “other” please help us to better understand your answer by providing additional information. Your answers will be kept confidential and your name will not be linked to your responses. If you have any additional questions regarding confidentiality, please contact us at the numbers below.

If you are unable to submit this survey via the internet, please mail the address below.

Thank you for your participation in this study. Your contribution is very valuable. This information will help in the understanding information availability to the Spanish-speaking community and how local weather forecasters and emergency managers can improve the relay of important weather information.

Section A: Reception of Information

The following statements relate to your knowledge and concerns about storm prediction and perception of weather hazards in your area.

1. Which severe weather outbreak(s) effects your community?

     Tornadoes
     Hurricanes
     Floods
     Damaging winds
     Severe Thunderstorms
     All of the above
     I do not have severe weather outbreaks where I live.
     Other

2. Where do you get your weather information (updates, forecasts, etc.)? Mark all that apply.

     The Weather Channel
     Internet
     Local radio stations
     Television in English
     Television in Spanish
     NOAA weather radio
     Cell phone
     Weather Bug (Internet)
     By word of mouth
     Other

3. How often do you generally get your weather information?

     Several times per day
     Once per day
     2-5 times per week
     Weekly
     Occasionally
     Never
     Other

4. On a day that severe weather is possible, how often do you get your weather information?

     Several times per day
     Once per day
     2-5 times per week
     Weekly
     Occasionally
     Never
     Other

5. What weather information source do you consider the most important?

     Environmental cues (look outside)
     The Weather Channel
     Internet
     Local radio stations
     Television
     NOAA weather radio
     Cell phone
     Weather bug
     Other

Section B: Your Knowledge of Severe Weather

The following questions ask where you get your weather information.

6. What is the correct definition of National Weather Service Warning and Watches for severe weather?

     Warnings indicate that condition are favorable for severe weather in the next several hours;
          Watches are issued when severe weather is occurring or is imminent in the next 30-60 minutes

     Watches indicate that condition are favorable for severe weather in the next several hours;
          Warnings are issued when severe weather is occurring or is imminent in the next 30-60 minutes

     I don’t know

7. Who is responsible for issuing severe weather Warnings?

     The Storm Prediction Center
     The Weather Channel
     Local TV meteorologists
     Local National Weather Service office
     National Hurricane Center
     I don’t know
     Other

8. Who is responsible for issuing severe weather Watches?

     The Storm Prediction Center
     The Weather Channel
     Local TV meteorologists
     Local National Weather Service office
     National Hurricane Center
     I don’t know
     Other

9. Which prompts you to take a more serious approach to the conditions of severe weather?

     Severe Weather Watch
     Severe Weather Warning

10. What do you usually see displayed first in times of severe weather?

     Severe Weather Watch
     Severe Weather Warning
     I don’t see anything displayed.

11. Suppose a severe weather WATCH (thunderstorms, tornados, flash flood, etc) was issued for your county, what action would you take?

     Continue normal activities
     Take a look at the sky and look for signs of threatening weather.
     Call a friend or relative and ask them what weather they are experiencing.
     Go to another source of weather information (TV, Radio) to confirm threat before taking additional action
     Move to shelter (higher ground, interior room, storm shelter, etc)
     Other

12. Suppose a severe weather WARNING (thunderstorms, tornados, flash flood, etc) was issued for your county, what action would you take?

     Continue normal activities
     Take a look at the sky and look for signs of threatening weather.
     Call a friend or relative and ask them what weather they are experiencing.
     Go to another source of weather information (TV, Radio) to confirm threat before taking additional action
     Move to shelter (higher ground, interior room, storm shelter, etc)
     Other

13. Overall, do you think that Severe Weather Warnings/Watches are:

     not issued enough
     issued about as often as needed
     issued too often

14. Overall, do you think that Severe Weather Warnings/Watches are:

     issued too far in advance; I don’t need such a long advanced notice of severe weather
     issued with about as much advanced notice as I require
     issued too late; I don’t have enough time to prepare
     issued way too late; the severe weather occurs before I am aware it’s coming

15. Which factors do you feel need to be present in order to classify as severe weather?

     20 mph winds
     50 mph winds
     70 mph winds
     Tornadoes
     Heavy rain
     Dark Clouds
     Pea-sized hail
     Baseball-sized hail
     Flooding water
     Heavy snow fall

Section C: Your Experiences with Severe Weather

The following are questions about your personal experiences with severe weather.

16. I have experienced a severe weather outbreak in my lifetime (flash flood, tornado, hail, severe thunderstorms, hurricane, blizzard, etc.)

     Yes (Please continue to the next question)
     No (Please skip to #28)

17. Do you live in an area where severe weather occurs?

     Yes
     No

18. The number of severe weather outbreaks I have experienced in my lifetime is:

     1
     2
     3
     4
     5-10
     11 or more

19. When you first heard about the possibility of severe weather, did you check with other sources of information to see how serious the threat was?

     Yes
     No

20. Thinking about your most recent severe weather experience, tell us where you first found out about the threat of severe weather. (Please choose only one response)

     National Weather Service warning
     Environmental cues (extreme amounts of rainfall, water on roadway, etc.)
     Local television channel
     The Weather Channel
     Local radio station
     NOAA weather radio
     Internet
     Neighbors, friends, or family contacted me
     An official called me on the phone
     Other (please describe)

21. Referring to the same incident, chose all the sources you checked with to make sure the severe weather threat was serious.

     National Weather Service warning
     Environmental cues (extreme amounts of rainfall, water on roadway, etc.)
     Local television channel
     The Weather Channel
     Local radio station
     NOAA weather radio
     Internet
     Neighbors, friends, or family
     An official called me on the phone
     I did not check any additional sources
     Other (please describe)

22. Referring again to the same incident, what did you do after you received the severe weather warning information? (Please choose only one response)

     I left immediately and went to a location outside the warning area
     I stayed where I was since I was in a safe location
     I stayed where I was because I did not know what to do
     I kept driving if I was in my car
     I sought out shelter
     I evaluated the situation and took no immediate action
     Other (please describe)

23. I suffered a significant financial loss as a result of the severe weather such as home, car, or job.

24. Before the severe weather warning, I knew weather conditions were favorable for severe weather.

25. I know how to prevent my family and myself from harm during severe weather.

26. I think I would have been better prepared for severe weather if I had received more information.

27. There is limited weather information in Spanish.

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Section D: About You and Your Family

28. What is your age group?

     18-25 years
     26-35 years
     36-45 years
     46-55 years
     56-65 years
     66-75 years
     76-85 years
     86+ years

29. Ethnic (Cultural) Group:

     Hispanic or Latino
     African American
     American Indian or Alaska Native
     Asian
     Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
     White
     Other

30. Gender:

     Male
     Female

31. Highest level of education completed:

     No schooling
     Elementary school
     Middle school
     High school
     2-year university (Associate degree)
     4-year university (Bachelors degree) graduate
     Graduate school or higher (Masters, Doctorate)

32. I have lived in this city for:

    Under 6 months
    6-11 months
    1-3 years
    4-6 years
    7+ years

33. This is the number of people who live in my home:

     1
     2
     3
     4
     5
     6+

34. This is the number of adults (18 and older) who live in my home:

     1
     2
     3
     4
     5
     6+

35. The language spoken most often in my home is:

     English
     Spanish
     Both (English and Spanish)
     Other

36. If you have any thoughts or comments that you want to share with us, please use the space below.

Please contact us if you are interested in receiving additional information or Internet links to learn more about real-time weather information, and natural hazards or if you would like to receive a copy of our final report:

CAPS Research Experience for Undergraduates
University of Oklahoma
100 E. Boyd, Suite 1110
Norman, OK 73019