PARKERSBURG — Wood County has passed the response rate it had for the 2010 Census while work continues on the 2020 Census.

Pam Brust of the Wood County Complete Census Count Committee appeared before the Wood County Commission Monday to update them on how the local count was going.

“As of July 16, Wood County has surpassed its 2010 Census response rate,” Brust said. “The county is now at 67.7 percent compared to 67.6 percent in 2010.

“But we have slipped out of first place for our response rate (in the state). Jefferson County now leads the state with a response rate of 68.5 percent. However, Wood County is still better than the national rate at 62.1 percent; and West Virginia is at 53.6 percent.”

The response rates for the local municipalities are Parkersburg at 63.1 percent; Williamstown at 73.5 percent; Vienna at 75.7 percent; and North Hills at 83.2 percent.

Around 49 percent of local people have filled out their Census information by the internet while the rest is done by phone or mail.

“We still have a long way to go so anyone who hasn’t turned in their Census information yet, please do so as soon as possible,” Brust said. “Census takers are out in the county now doing follow-up visits to non-responsive households.

“That work started last Thursday throughout West Virginia.”

The census takers were originally supposed to head out in May, but the spread of the coronavirus delayed those plans. The deadline for the head count has also been moved to the end of October.

“Census takers will follow local public health guidelines when they visit,” Brust said. “If masks are required in the area, census takers will wear them.

“Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods.”

Brust said she did contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and the Wood County 911 Center as well as other local officials to let them know what was going on in case law-enforcement agencies started getting calls.

At individual homes, interviews will be conducted outside in an open, well-ventilated space whenever possible, she said. Six feet of space will be allowed between the Census taker and the person they are interviewing. They will be following healthy hygiene habits for frequent hand-washing, avoiding contact with high-touch surfaces.

If people are not comfortable with that, they can supply the Census taker with their telephone number and they can do it over the phone to minimize contact or ask the person to come back at another time.

“By law, all interviews are confidential; answers cannot be shared with immigration or law enforcement agencies,” Brust said.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail, Brust said adding the same was true for Census takers who may be uncomfortable approaching a home.

“People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted,” Brust said.

Census takers can be identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date on the badge. They will also have a Census Bureau-issued phone and many will be carrying a bag with the Census Bureau logo.

To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative. Wood County’s Regional Census Office is in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Regional Office can be reached at (215) 717-1800 or 1-800-262-4236; FAX at (215) 717-0755; TDD at (215) 717-0894 or by e-mail at Philadelphia.Regional.Office@census.gov

Brust said Census takers will not be asking people about their Social Security number, bank information or citizenship status.

The visits will be conducted between 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. including weekends. If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of the visit with information about how to respond online or by phone.

Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received or by responding online at 2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. A link is also available on the county’s website at woodcountywv.com.

Between September 22 and 24, the Census Bureau now plans to send specially trained census takers to count people at shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans, and locations previously identified by the Census Bureau where people are known to sleep outdoors, and contacting all-night businesses.

Brust said West Virginia cannot afford an inaccurate assessment in the 2020 Census as the state is one of the most reliant on federal funds. A federal funding study showed 16 percent of personal income in the state comes in the form of Medicare, Medicaid and other such programs, approximately $675 billion in federal taxpayer dollars makes their way back to residents annually.

Officials also use the census numbers collected to determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Due to declining population numbers, state and federal officials have said West Virginia could be in danger of losing one of its three seats in the House.

The numbers are also used in determining how much money is available in Community Block Grant Funding, school funds, Medicare, Medicaid, road funding and more.

“If we don’t give them an accurate number, we could literally lose billions of dollars in funding,” Brust said. “That can include everything from emergency response to elderly services and children services.

“Traditionally, children are one of the most unreported groups every Census. If you don’t participate, you are hurting everyone.”

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com