Are Washoe County residents prepared for disaster?

Community Assessment (CASPER) set for March 12 - 17

Reno, NV, March 7, 2019 – Is our community prepared for a major disaster? To answer that question, the Washoe County Health District (WCHD) will be conducting a CASPER or Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, March 12 -17.

CASPER is a technique designed to provide quickly, and at low-cost, household-based information about a community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed CASPER to assist personnel from any local, state, regional, or federal agency in conducting a rapid assessment of a community quickly and cost effectively. The WCHD is using the CASPER protocol for the March survey.

CASPER volunteers will go door-to-door in select neighborhoods to conduct household surveys over the course of five days to determine how prepared our community is for disasters. The Health District is hoping to survey 238 randomly selected households during the CASPER. Here’s what you can expect if your neighborhood is surveyed:

WCHD staff and volunteers may come to your home March 12 through March 17 between the hours of 9 AM and 7 PM to ask how ready your household is for an emergency or disaster.

• Survey teams will be clearly identified by their yellow vests with the Washoe County Health District logo on the front and Survey Team identification on the back.
• All responses are confidential.
• YOU WILL NOT be asked for your name or any identification during the survey.
• YOU DO NOT have to answer all the questions.
• The results will help us improve the County’s emergency preparedness and response plans.

To learn more about the national initiative to assess community preparedness, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/casper/default.htm. For more localized information about Washoe County’s CASPER, visit us on Twitter @HealthyWashoe, like us on Facebook, or visit our website at www.washoecounty.us/health.

For questions, comments, or concerns, contact Heather Kerwin at 775-326-6041 or hkerwin@washoecounty.us.

#  #  #

About Washoe County Health District: The Washoe County District Board of Health, through the Washoe County Health District, has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Washoe County, Nevada. Its mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Washoe County through health promotion, disease prevention, public health emergency preparedness, and environmental services. The Board of Health is composed of seven members, including two representatives each from Reno, Sparks,