210 USVI Households Participated in CASPER Survey, D.O.H. Says

The Department of Health said in a release issued Monday that it recently completed its fourth Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey. The purpose of the survey, the release said, was to gather information about the Virgin Islands’ state of post-hurricane recovery and how D.O.H. can help residents be better prepared during future emergencies.

During the assessment period from November 13 to November 16, 210 households across the territory participated in the survey, which is conducted in person by D.O.H. representatives who do not collect personal information from respondents such as names and addresses, the release said. The survey contains 38 questions and takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

Participants were asked questions related to their home’s physical repair status; access to essential items like clean water, electricity, and functioning toilets; access to health care; barriers to health care access such as cost or lack of insurance; stress and mental health challenges; mold remediation; environmental concerns such as mosquitoes; and whether or not the household is preparing itself for future storms by organizing an emergency kit with supplies for each member of the household, according to the release.

The release said the responses gathered from these questions help D.O.H. better understand the community’s knowledge of how to respond appropriately to a future emergency. The survey data also helps the department identify where additional information, education, and support services are needed to fortify the community’s overall response readiness.

CASPER surveys have been conducted in the past and responses from past CASPER events demonstrate progress toward hurricane recovery as well as community preparedness for future events, according to the release.

“The information collected from these surveys truly help the Department of Health evaluate where we are and where we need to go,” said D.O.H. Commissioner Michelle Davis. She expressed her gratitude to residents for participating.