[StBernard] Post-storm household population estimates released for Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parishe

[Westley Annis]

Post-storm household population estimates released for Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parishes

All three parishes show gains, with Tangipahoa showing largest growth since 2000 Census

BATON ROUGE, La. (February 21, 2007) - The results of the first post-Katrina household surveys of Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parishes have been released. Tangipahoa Parish has an estimated total household population of 110,342, up from 97,313 in the 2000 U.S. Census. Washington Parish has an estimated total household population of 42,731, up slightly from 42,139 in the 2000 Census, while St. Helena Parish has an estimated population of 11,189, up from 10,453 in the 2000 Census. 

In addition to the household population estimate, the survey process also included a count of group quarters residents, or, as defined by the Census Bureau, "all people not living in households." Tangipahoa has 3,484 of these group quarters residents, while Washington has 1,683 and St. Helena has 78. According to the Census Bureau, there are two types of group quarters: institutional, which includes correctional facilities, nurs! ing homes and mental hospitals; and non-institutional, which includes college dormitories, military barracks, group homes, missions and shelters.

The complete reports for Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parishes - including demographic breakdowns, insurance coverage information and more - are available online at www.popest.org <http://www.popest.org> .

The Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parish household estimate surveys were conducted by the Louisiana Public Health Institute on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Recovery Authority, with technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Census Bureau. Known officially as the 2006 Louisiana Health and Popula! tion Survey, the project employs a standard U.S. Census Bureau method for conducting population estimates, with modifications made to these methods to account for the effects of the 2005 hurricane season.

The 2006 Louisiana Health & Population Survey is supported primarily by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Office of Public Health, the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Centers for Disease Control Foundation.

The survey process began in June of this year, when survey teams visited neighborhoods and left behind survey information packets on doors. The packets included instructions, the survey form and a letter from Governor Kathleen Blanco and Louisiana Health and Hospitals Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise that explained the project and its importance. The teams later returned to the homes where packets had been left in order to survey residents in person. 

Throughout the process, survey team members wore project t-shirts and carried official badg! es identifying them as members of 2006 Louisiana Health and Population Survey team.

It is anticipated that survey reports will be issued for a total of 18 parishes in South and Central Louisiana. The goals of the project are to: 

*	Provide critical population data to decision-makers to use in planning the allocation of public services and disaster recovery funds, and for the creation of evacuation and preparation guidelines for future disasters;
*	Provide timely and accurate estimates of the population in selected parishes, including information on age, race and gender; 
*	Obtain information for health care and economic development planning, including information on health insurance, worker's compensation, disability, household income, employment status, education and selected chronic disease conditions; and 
*	Compare population estimates with modeled estimates developed from other sources in order to gauge the need for future household surveys. 

In addition to the new Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena Parish results, the final household population estimates for Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion are also available online at www.popest.org <http://www.popest.org> .

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

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