Severe HAil Verification Experiment (SHAVE 2006)

Operations Plan

Introduction

Facilities

Data Collection Team Duties

Daily Activities

Data Collection Strategies

Survey Information

Staff Logistics (internal)

Data

Survey Information

The survey software facilitates data collection as well as collaboration among the team. The initial software has the following layout:

1. Login screen

Each team member has a username/password combination unique to them.

2. Data point selection screen

This screen allows the team member to enter a full 10-digit telephone number that they intend to call. When they submit the number, it checks the database for a number of items:

• has this number already been called by someone? If so, list the last time and the results, or if the call is in progress.
• has this number asked us not to call again or been disconnected?
• if already called, then insert the location information.

3. Survey screen

This screen contains the script to follow for surveys, as well as a place to enter answers for each question. These questions are front-loaded with the most important information first, so proceed down the list for as long as you can while they seem comfortable answering questions.

Hello, my name is X from the National Severe Storms Laboratory. I was watching the storm that just passed your location on radar and I was wondering if you got any hail during the storm?

(If they don't know what you are talking about, confirm the location): "Is this the _____ residence?" or "Is this ____ (business name)?"

(If hail fell, #1): If you could look outside and compare to the size of a coin like a quarter, dime, or nickel, is the biggest hail stone larger than a quarter or smaller than a dime?

(If answer is no, then ask #2): What size coin is the hail closest to?

(If answer to #1 is that the hail is larger than a quarter, then ask): is it is as big as a golf ball, a tennis ball, or a baseball?

(If answer to #1 is that the hail is smaller than a dime, then ask): is it about the size of a pea or a marble?

(at any rate, try to guide them toward commonly-known objects)

Are there very many stones that size? What is the average size of the stones?

Is there very much hail on the ground?

How long ago did it start and end?

(If they sound like they want to talk to you about it, then we will ask a couple more things):

Do you have a ruler? If it's stopped raining, lightning, and thunder, I was wondering if you could go outside and measure a few of the stones for me.

At the end of your call, thank them for their time. Mark the drop-down box that flags the telephone number as: "do not call"/"good data point"/"busy number"/"wrong location"/"disconnected"/"other" and submit the survey form.

If you encounter anything that seems like an emergency (which is possible following a severe thunderstorm passage), please tell them to hang up the phone and dial 911.

Please do not ask any personal questions, such as "how did you react to the storm?" We are collecting data specifically on the size and distribution of hail, which is not classified by the university as "human research." Asking people personal questions in the context of this project may be construed as sociological research for which we would need special approval from the university.

Answers to FAQs:

1. How did you get my phone number? (most likely asked by rural residences) A: The phone directory or county directory book.