Open AccessCommunity Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs)—US Virgin Islands, 2017–2018
Author(s) -
Amy Schnall,
Amy Wolkin,
Joseph Roth,
Esther M. Ellis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2019.305161
Subject(s) - public health , environmental health , preparedness , emergency management , medical emergency , emergency response , medicine , community health , occupational safety and health , political science , nursing , pathology , law
Objectives. To assess preparedness levels of communities to help public health and others plan for disasters or emergencies and tailor messaging to increase community preparedness. Methods. US Virgin Islands Department of Health conducted a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) in June 2017, 2 hurricane response CASPERs in November 2017, and a recovery CASPER in February 2018. CASPER is a 2-stage cluster sampling method designed to provide household-based information about a community's needs in a timely, inexpensive, and representative manner. Results. Roughly the same amount of households reported having a 3-day supply of food and water before and 3 months after the hurricanes. During the response, approximately a third of households resupplied between 3 and 6 days and an additional approximately 40% between days 7 and 14. Conclusions. On the basis of the CASPERs, we were able to track whether households had an emergency preparedness kit, whether they used it during the storms (and what was missing), and if they resupplied their kit in recovery. Public Health Implications. CASPER is a promising tool to measure community preparedness to help state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions plan for disasters or emergencies.