Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T03:18:47.826Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessing Emergency Preparedness and Response Capacity Using Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response Methodology: Portsmouth, Virginia, 2013

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

Katie M. Kurkjian ,
Michelle Winz ,
Jun Yang ,
Kate Corvese ,
Ana Colón ,
Seth J. Levine ,
Jessica Mullen ,
Donna Ruth ,
Rexford Anson-Dwamena  and
Tesfaye Bayleyegn
...Show all authors
Katie M. Kurkjian*
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, assigned to Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, Virginia
Michelle Winz
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Portsmouth Health District, Portsmouth, Virginia
Jun Yang
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, Virginia
Kate Corvese
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, Virginia
Ana Colón
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Norfolk, Virginia
Seth J. Levine
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, Virginia
Jessica Mullen
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Portsmouth Health District, Portsmouth, Virginia
Donna Ruth
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Portsmouth Health District, Portsmouth, Virginia
Rexford Anson-Dwamena
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Family Health Services, Richmond, Virginia
Tesfaye Bayleyegn
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia.
David S. Chang
Affiliation:
Virginia Department of Health, Portsmouth Health District, Portsmouth, Virginia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Katie Kurkjian, DVM, MPH, Virginia Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (e-mail: Katie.Kurkjian@vdh.virginia.gov).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

For the past decade, emergency preparedness campaigns have encouraged households to meet preparedness metrics, such as having a household evacuation plan and emergency supplies of food, water, and medication. To estimate current household preparedness levels and to enhance disaster response planning, the Virginia Department of Health with remote technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a community health assessment in 2013 in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Methods

Using the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology with 2-stage cluster sampling, we randomly selected 210 households for in-person interviews. Households were questioned about emergency planning and supplies, information sources during emergencies, and chronic health conditions.

Results

Interview teams completed 180 interviews (86%). Interviews revealed that 70% of households had an emergency evacuation plan, 67% had a 3-day supply of water for each member, and 77% had a first aid kit. Most households (65%) reported that the television was the primary source of information during an emergency. Heart disease (54%) and obesity (40%) were the most frequently reported chronic conditions.

Conclusions

The Virginia Department of Health identified important gaps in local household preparedness. Data from the assessment have been used to inform community health partners, enhance disaster response planning, set community health priorities, and influence Portsmouth’s Community Health Improvement Plan. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:193–198)

Keywords

needs assessmentdisaster planningemergency preparedness
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 193 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Ms Corvese is now with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Division of State and Local Readiness, Atlanta, Georgia.

References

1. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ready.gov website. http://www.ready.gov/. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Citizen Corps. Ready.gov website. http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Household preparedness for public health emergencies—14 States, 2006–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61:713-719.Google Scholar
4. Sutton, J, Tierney, K. Disaster Preparedness: Concepts, Guidance, and Research. Paper presented at: Fritz Institute Assessing Disaster Preparedness Conference; November 3-4, 2006; Sebastopol, California. http://www.fritzinstitute.org/pdfs/whitepaper/disasterpreparedness-concepts.pdf. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar
5. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Personal Preparedness in America: Findings from the 2012 FEMA National Survey. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency; 2013. http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/662ad7b4a323dcf07b829ce0c5b77ad9/2012+FEMA+National+Survey+Report.pdf. Accessed January 13, 2016.Google Scholar
6. Ablah, E, Konda, K, Kelley, CL. Factors predicting individual emergency preparedness: a multi-state analysis of 2006 BRFSS data. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. 2009;7(3):317-330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/bsp.2009.0022.Google Scholar
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) Toolkit. 2nd ed. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance/pdf/casper_toolkit_version_2_0_508_compliant.pdf. Published 2012. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar
8. Kleinosky, LR, Yarnal, B, Fisher, A. Vulnerability of Hampton Roads, Virginia to storm-surge flooding and sea-level rise. Nat Hazards. 2007;40(1):43-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-006-0004-z.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. US Department of Homeland Security. Target Capabilities List. A Companion to the National Preparedness Guidelines. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/training/tcl.pdf. Published September 2007. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar
10. Aldrich, N, Benson, WF. Disaster preparedness and the chronic disease needs of vulnerable older adults. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008;5:A27. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/jan/07_0135.htm. Accessed November 20, 2015.Google Scholar