Understanding knowledge and utilization of environmental health assessments of congregate shelter facilities during disasters--a survey of US states and territories

Environmental health rapid needs assessments of congregate disaster shelter facilities are assessments usually carried out during disasters or emergencies. Public health agencies today use information provided by environmental health assessments of hygiene and sanitary conditions to better protect the health and safety of shelter occupants from diseases and other environmental health hazards. As of today, no one has ever documented the use and utilization of these assessments by state and territorial environmental health jurisdictions. A survey of all US states, the district of Columbia, and 5 territorial environmental health departments (n=56) was conducted to ascertain the knowledge, utilization, development of procedures and assessment tools for conducting shelter assessments. The survey also documented participation in shelter assessment training, planning and collaboration with partners by state and territorial jurisdictions. A 9 page self-administered survey containing 31 closed and open text questions was used to elicit responses from participants. Frequencies and descriptive analysis done to describe jurisdiction, familiarity and utilization environmental health shelter assessments by survey respondents. The concept of environmental health shelter assessments as a regular response activity in disaster situations is relatively new. However, these assessments provide valuable information needed for public health action. The information obtained during this survey adds value to the argument for a more frequent use of environmental health shelter assessments during disasters. Also, our findings highlighted a need for developing standard assessments methods and procedures, as well as training for jurisdictions responsible for assessing shelter facilities during disasters.