A pair of universities are in Brownwood for the next few weeks conducting a disaster study and rewarding those who participate with cash.

The University of Texas at Dallas and Rice University are conducting a disaster study around the state and will be in Brownwood for the next few weeks doing research.

They kicked off their study on Friday at city hall with a room full of officials and employees from both the city and the county.

The study is divided into two parts.  The first part is a study of the decision making process by allowing participants a chance to earn cash for certain decisions.  The second part is a disaster study where participants fill out a questionnaire.

The focus of the study overall is to find out how public officials and citizens look at natural disasters.

Those participating in the study are paid $20 cash.  During the first part of the study, participants are asked a series of questions and complete some tasks that will enable them to earn (or possibly lose) some more money.  There is also a random element thrown in the study so the outcome is difficult to predict mirroring the unknown element of a disaster.

The organizers of the study have preselected addresses in Brownwood to participate in the study and they will be going to each preselected house to inform the resident of their selection.  The public studies will be held at Adams Street Community Center.

Organizers also said that many individuals in communities that they visit are hesitant to participate at first, but once word get around that participants get paid, the project moves along a bit easier.

Organizers plan to come back to Brownwood once or twice a year for the next five years regarding this disaster study.