Kauaʻi health office conducting survey about emergency preparedness, pandemic impacts

The Kaua‘i District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey known as CASPER to assess the emergency preparedness level and current wellbeing of Kauaʻi households.

The responses will build upon prior CASPER surveys to assess household emergency preparedness and evacuation plans, and help the health office understand how Kauaʻi households are faring from the pandemic.

Lauren Guest, the countyʻs deputy district health officer, said: “The information we learn enables our office and the county to better meet our community’s needs before, during and after a disaster. In addition, it serves as a valuable training opportunity for our staff.”

Survey teams will go door-to-door on June 6 to 9 to 30 census tracts that are weighted toward more populated areas within the county. Seven houses within each tract will be systematically selected and surveyed.

Survey teams are comprised of Kaua‘i District Health Office staff with support from the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps and the American Red Cross. O‘ahu Department of Health staff will also be present to participate in and learn from this process.

“We greatly appreciate the participation of Kaua‘i residents in this island-wide survey effort,“ said Dr. Janet Berreman of the Kaua‘i District Health Officer.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and selected households will be asked about ongoing impacts of the pandemic, emergency preparedness supply levels, emergency plans for various hazards, and general questions about life on Kaua‘i. All survey responses will be confidential, and survey teams will not collect names or addresses.

Team members will wear vests identifying themselves as part of the survey team and will carry identification cards. Survey teams will be wearing face masks and physical distancing will be observed. Participating households will be offered the opportunity to complete the survey over the phone, if preferred.

The CASPER survey methodology was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rapidly assess the health and other resource needs of a community after a disaster.

This will be the sixth CASPER survey conducted on Kauaʻi. To view prior CASPER survey reports, please visit: https://health.hawaii.gov/kauai/