PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR FOR COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT

September 26, 2014

(Charlottesville, Va.) – City and county residents may get a knock on the door September 30, October 1 and 2 from Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (CAHD) staff and volunteers who are conducting Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) surveys. CAHD staff members are teaming up with the Virginia Department of Health to visit select Charlottesville City and Albemarle County residents to assess whether they have taken basic precautions to prepare for emergencies such as stockpiling supplies of food, water and medications; making plans for contacting relatives; and planning for their pet’s needs.

The CASPER survey enables public health practitioners and emergency management officials to determine the health status and basic needs of the selected community. These surveys often are used during and after a disaster but can also be used to collect a baseline of information before an event occurs.

Teams will be clearly identified by vests and identification badges, and will be in neighborhoods between 1 and 8 p.m. Residents in selected neighborhoods were chosen using census information. CAHD appreciates residents’ help in making the public aware of this preparedness exercise to improve the emergency response system.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper.htm or call CAHD at 434-972-6200, option 3.