A needs assessment is being conducted to learn more about developmental disabilities within Warren County. The eight-question survey was mailed out within the past week to county residents who paid personal property taxes. It is intended to identify unmet and underserved needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. Boonslick Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is receiving the responses and will be compiling a report to be used by all local service providers. The local agencies that will be utilizing the information include: the Missouri Department of Mental Health-Warrenton branch office, TEMCO Sheltered Workshop, Warren County Handicapped Services, United Services, First Steps of Northeast Missouri, Warren County Sheltered Workshop, Emmaus Homes, Warren County Senior Center and local school districts. “We think their are unmet needs in the county,” BRPC Executive Director Steve Etcher said. “We’re not sure how to get hold of them and what they’re needs might be. We’re reaching out to the entire population. “We want to find out what services individuals want.” Etcher said responses should be returned within 30 days and can be mailed to Boonslick Regional Planing Commission, P.O. 429, Warrenton, MO 63383. A postage-paid envelope was included in the mailing. County residents can also call one of the local service providers to report their needs. That information will be reported back to BRPC, Etcher said. Each local service provider contributed $500 toward the needs assessment, while the Warren County Disabilities Board allocated $5,000. Health Department Also Seeking Feedback The Warren County Health Department also is seeking feedback from county residents. A two-question needs assessment was included in the mailer that was sent out within the past week. Health department officials are looking to receive information from residents who have specific needs during a weather-related emergency or if a person needs transportation for health-related symptoms during inclement weather that would be beyond the family’s normal capability. Ruth Walters, health department administrator, explained some examples that should be noted on the form are those who are on oxygen, go to dialysis appointments or are home-bound. She said the information that is received will be included in the department’s GIS mapping system so that is easily visible where assistance may be needed in case a catastrophic event occurs locally. Gathering the information is part of a process to update the county’s disaster response plans and procedures that are currently under way. The health department’s needs assessment is being funded through a bioterrorism grant, according to Walters. There also is information included on the health department’s sheet about signing up for the Delta Alert emergency notification system. By enrolling, residents will be contacted and receive emergency information quickly for incidents such as storms, dam failures, chemical leaks or spills or other natural disasters. The Delta Alert system has more than 9,000 published telephone numbers the county received from CenturyLink and around 2,300 more from residents who opted in. Some of those numbers are duplicates. Those residents who have yet to enroll must do so in order to receive storm warning alerts. For more information on the health department’s needs assessment or Delta Alert system, call 636-456-7474 or 636-456-3786.