Survey to assess emergency preparedness level of east Hawaiʻi County households next week

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess the emergency preparedness level of east Hawaiʻi County households in the North and South Hilo, Puna and Kaʻū districts from next week.

This will be the first time the CASPER survey in Hawaiʻi County will be used to assess household emergency preparedness and to understand the household’s awareness and concerns.

“CASPER surveys have been used for years on Kauaʻi, elevating the community’s voice in emergency preparedness. We are excited to partner with Hawaiʻi County stakeholders to conduct one here,” said Dr. John Kolman, district health officer with Hawaiʻi District Health Office. “The information we learn will enable the Hawaiʻi District Health Office and the county to better meet our community’s needs before, during and after a disaster.

Along with the District Health Office, Hawaiʻi County’s Civil Defense Agency and Community Emergency Response Teams and community organizations will be coordinating and conducting the study.

Survey teams will go door-to-door to 30 randomly selected census blocks. Seven houses within each block will be systematically selected and surveyed for a total of 210 attempted household-level surveys. Teams are comprised of Department of Health staff and local county partner organizations.  

The survey is estimated to take about 10 minutes. Selected households will be asked about their emergency and evacuation plans; familiarity with local resources; and any concerns regarding disaster preparedness. All survey responses will be voluntary and confidential, so names or addresses will not be collected.  

Team members will wear vests identifying themselves as part of the DOH survey team and will carry identification cards. Selected 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 (CDC) to rapidly assess the health and other resource needs of a community after a disaster.

CASPER surveys also serve as a valuable training opportunity for our staff and partners. This year we will focus on eastern Hawaiʻi County and hope to apply lessons learned in conducting another survey on the western side of the island in the future.”