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Assessing Functional Needs Sheltering in Pike County, Kentucky: Using a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2014

Amy R. Kolwaite ,
W. Gary Hlady ,
Matthew C. Simon ,
Betsy L. Cadwell ,
W. Randolph Daley ,
Aaron T. Fleischauer ,
Zora May  and
Doug Thoroughman
Amy R. Kolwaite*
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, Georgia Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort
W. Gary Hlady
Affiliation:
Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service, San Francisco, California
Matthew C. Simon
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, North Carolina Institute for Public Health, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Betsy L. Cadwell
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
W. Randolph Daley
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, Georgia
Aaron T. Fleischauer
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia North Carolina Division of Public Health, Raleigh, North Carolina
Zora May
Affiliation:
Pike County Health Department, Pikeville, Kentucky
Doug Thoroughman
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Amy R. Kolwaite, ARNP, MS, MPH, Kentucky Department for Public Health, 275 E Main St HS 2GW-C, Frankfort, KY 40621 (e-mail izj9@cdc.gov).
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Abstract

Objective

During 2009-2011, Pike County, Kentucky, experienced a series of severe weather events that resulted in property damage, insufficient potable water, and need for temporary shelters. A Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey was implemented for future planning. CASPER assesses household health status, preparedness level, and anticipated demand for shelters.

Methods

We used a 2-stage cluster sampling design to randomly select 210 representative households for in-person interviews. We estimated the proportion of households with children aged 2 years or younger; adults aged 65 years or older; and residents with chronic health conditions, visual impairments, physical limitations, and supplemental oxygen requirements.

Results

Of all households surveyed, 8% included children aged 2 years or younger, and 27% included adults aged 65 years or older. The most common chronic health conditions were heart disease (51%), diabetes (28%), lung disease (23%), and asthma (21%). Visual impairments were reported in 29% of households, physical limitations in 24%, and supplemental oxygen use in 12%.

Conclusions

Pike County residents should be encouraged to maintain an adequate supply of medications and copies of their prescriptions. Emergency response plans should include transportation for persons with physical limitations; and shelter plans should include sufficient medically trained staff and adequate supplies of infant formula, pharmaceuticals, and supplemental oxygen. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:597-602)

Keywords

needs assessmentdisaster planningemergency preparedness
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 6 , December 2013 , pp. 597 - 602
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

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