[StBernard] New Census Bureau Population estimates as of JANUARY 1, 2006 and demographic, socioeconomic characteristics averaged for Sept.-Dec. 2005

[Westley Annis]

CENSUS BUREAU RELEASES SPECIAL PRODUCTS FOR GULF COAST AREA

The U.S. Census Bureau has released two special data products for the Gulf
Coast area affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The first product provides special population estimates for the
hurricane-affected areas along the Gulf Coast, as of January 1, 2006. While
not official figures, these estimates provide the population size before and
after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the region last fall. The estimates
cover the 117 counties initially designated by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as eligible for individual or public assistance (IPA). In
December, Gulf Coast states will have the next snapshot of their population
totals when the Census Bureau releases the official 2006 mid-year population
estimates for all states.  Population estimates for January 1, 2006 for the
Gulf Coast states:
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/emergencies/impacted_gulf_estimates.
html

The second product shows the demographic, socioeconomic and housing
characteristics of the population in those 117 IPA counties. These data come
from the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS), which is ordinarily designed
to produce annual estimates of characteristics of population and housing
based on at least a full year of data collection. However, to provide an
earlier look at the hurricanes' effect on the region, the Census Bureau
divided the 2005 data into an eight-month period (January through August)
before the hurricanes and a four-month period (September through December)
after the hurricanes. Because of the shorter time periods, the sample sizes
and the reliability of the estimates are reduced. In addition, for many
areas, conducting interviews in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes
proved very difficult. The 2005 ACS sample was selected from an address list
developed early in 2005 and therefore the estimates will not reflect any
(including temporary) housing added to the address list after that date.
Group quarters population was not included in the 2005 sample.  The ACS data
does not include a separate listing for Orleans Parish because there were
too few interviews in the time period.  It does include Metro New Orleans
information.

On Wednesday, June 7th, the data can be accessed from the American Community
Survey new Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness web page on the Census
Bureau web site:
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Profiles/gulf_coast/index.htm 

Both of these special data products for the Gulf Coast represent an effort
by the Census Bureau to aid local officials and shed some light on the
hurricanes' effects on the region. However, the tabulation of these data
were generated using different methodologies than either program, the
mid-year Population Estimates or American Community Survey, were designed to
use (see the methodology documents for more information). For instance, the
special population estimates used an extrapolation approach along with a
special Hurricane Katrina change of address file, rather than the component
of population change approach normally used to produce population estimates.
While the ACS data are normally controlled to mid-year population estimates,
the 2005 ACS Special Product for the Gulf Coast data are not controlled to
these estimates.

This special ACS product precedes the planned 2005 ACS data releases, the
first of which is scheduled for Aug. 15. Demographic, social, housing and
economic data for the nation, states and Census Bureau tabulation areas of
65,000 or more will be available starting on that date and continuing in
three additional data releases scheduled later in 2006. The ACS, fully
implemented across the nation in 2005, provides annual updates on
characteristics data that were previously only available every 10 years.

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