Public Health Officials Survey Greenbrier and Kanawha Counties After Floods

Federal and state health agencies are surveying households in two counties to assess the impact of the recent flooding on communities in southern West Virginia.

The survey uses a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the physical and behavioral health of a household. It also assesses residents’ knowledge of access to information and resources for recovery.

The survey began Monday and will continue through Wednesday during daytime hours, according to a news release. Teams of public health staff are visiting randomly selected households in Greenbrier and Kanawha counties. They are carrying credentials identifying themselves.

Participation in the survey is optional. The Department of Health and Human Resources encourages participation, though. The survey allows the health department to determine a community’s health needs and evaluate the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.