DSHS to survey Liberty County residents

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) staff will go door-to-door in Liberty County to assess residents’ needs after Hurricane Harvey. The area was heavily affected by Harvey, and though it’s been more than two years, some residents are still trying to recover. Results of the confidential, anonymous survey will be shared with local, state and federal public partners to better understand how people were affected, what their current needs are, and how to help prepare residents for future emergencies.

During daylight hours on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29, survey teams will visit randomly selected homes in Liberty, Dayton and Cleveland. Survey teams will ask residents how they have fared since Harvey and what their current needs are, if any. Survey topics include:

• Household preparedness
• Physical and behavioral health needs
• Hurricane recovery and clean-up efforts

The survey, knowns as a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), is based on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) model. Residents will not be asked to identify themselves, and their addresses will not be included on the surveys.

Survey teams will be walking neighborhoods during daylight hours Friday and Saturday.

Any citizens wishing to verify the legitimacy of a survey team may call the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management at 936-334-3219, the DSHS CASPER Liaison, Justin Woodruff at 281-797-9102, or the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office at 936-334-4500.