Department Of Health Conducts Survey To Assess Emergency Preparedness

This fall, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health will conduct a CASPER survey that will look at local residents’ preparedness for potential emergencies and disasters.

The CASPER (Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response) survey, developed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will take place from 3:00pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday, September 17, and Wednesday, September 18, in neighborhoods around the county and the City of Annapolis. The rain dates will be Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25.

Two-member survey teams will go door to door in neighborhoods randomly selected by the CDC. Teams will include Department of Health staff, Maryland Responds volunteers and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers. They will travel in county cars and have identifying shirts and badges.

The 15-minute survey will have questions about household disaster preparedness, health needs, and training, such as CPR and first aid. The survey will be anonymous, and no personal information will be collected.

The CDC’s Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, health studies branch developed CASPER to help public health agencies assess household emergency preparedness and provide resources to meet community needs in case of disasters.

“Anne Arundel County is the first county in Maryland to use the CASPER survey,” said Acting Health Officer Billie Penley. “The survey will be a valuable tool to preserve, promote, and protect the health and safety of county residents. The data will be shared with county and city public safety partners to improve our ability to plan and respond to emergencies.”

For more information about the CASPER survey and the survey teams, call the Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response at 410-222-4115.