CASPERs in Oregon

Type: Response
Event: Drought
Location: Crook County
Purpose: Drought can have a substantial impact on the economy, the environment, and the affected communities, leading to both direct and indirect public health consequences. Snowpack is a main source of water storage and stream flows for many parts of Oregon. In Crook County, the drought has had a severe impact on snowpack, resulting in below average irrigation and stream flows, thereby affecting the local farmers and ranchers. The Oregon Public Health Division and the Crook County Health Department is conducting a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) to assess the effects of the drought on the community. The results generated from this survey will be collected and analyzed to enhance drought-related response efforts. The CASPER assessed topics such as sources, quality, quantity, and ease of access to water before and during drought; communication practices and preferences; household knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about drought and its mitigation; perception of the impact of drought on physical and mental health; financial impact of drought; and prevalence of behaviors that can make households more at-risk for drought-related health effects (for example, not washing hands because of water scarcity).
Report: Unpublished report available upon request