The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) Extreme Weather Response Tool:Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)

Following any type of disaster, public health and emergency management professionals must be prepared to respond to and meet the needs of the affected public. CDC has developed an epidemiologic technique called the Community Assessment for Public Health Response (CASPER) that can assist in determining the health status and basic needs of the affected community. The CASPER is an effective public health tool which provides reasonably accurate information by timely collection, analysis, and interpretation of data for decision-makers. The main objectives of CASPER are to: rapidly obtain information about the general, medical and public health needs of a community, characterize the population in the community, and produce population-based estimates for decision-makers.

A CASPER survey can be conducted before or after a disaster. Prior to a disaster, CASPER can assess community preparedness levels, such as the proportion of households who would evacuate when told to do so or who the household trusts to receive information from during an extreme weather event. The results of a pre-event CASPER allow for response planners to address gaps in the preparedness issues in their specific communities. Following a disaster, a CASPER can be conducted to assess new or ongoing needs. This information can be used by responders to understand the current health status and needs of the affected population, allocate resources, and evaluate the effectiveness of relief efforts.

Attendees to this session will learn about CASPER, become knowledgeable of its potential applications, and understand how it can be used to prepare for or respond to an extreme weather event.

CDC's CASPER Toolkit available at: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance/pdf/CASPER_toolkit_508%20COMPLIANT.pdf