According to a recent posting at the DNT's website, "The National Weather Service wants to know where you get information on Northland winter storms, and how you react when you get it. After snowstorms like the one expected this weekend die out, the Weather Service wants those affected to take its online Post Storm Survey."
Among the things the survey seeks to determine is "Do you browse newspaper Web sites for information on approaching storms, listen to the radio or depend on Grandma to call?"
I predict a majority of respondents will report browsing newspaper websites. What about nonrespondents though? Will those who "depend on Grandma to call" stumble upon this survey at the News Tribune's website? I doubt it!
And now to change the subject slightly...
This reminds me of a really interesting paper presentation that I went to at MAPOR, Awaiting the Storm: Examining the Public's Understanding of Hurricane Preparedness. (Authors: Steve Collins, Mark Johnson, & Chuck Watson)
Here's the part that makes it so similar: "The Weather Service is trying to find out if their efforts issuing winter storm watches and warnings are doing any good. And they want to know if you trust their forecasts and take them seriously -- if you understand the implications of a foot of snow with 25 mph winds. [...] 'We want to know how to make the warnings better. What can we do to explain to the public what’s really going to happen, that it’s not just a few inches of fluffy snow but that it could be a crippling event?'’’
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