Hurricane Ike Registry Fact Sheet
The USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at the School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M Health Science Center is working to create a registry of individuals who were affected during Hurricane Ike. This registry will serve as a means to contact individuals over the next five years about activities and research studies to learn about their evacuation from, sheltering during, and recovery after Hurricane Ike to help us improve response after hurricanes and other natural disasters. 

What is the purpose of the registry?
The purpose of this registry is to gather the names and contact information for individuals affected by Hurricane Ike and who are interested in participating in activities. Members of the registry may be contacted about activities and research studies focused on better understanding evacuation, sheltering, and recovery in the wake of this hurricane. Activities and research studies will allow state and local entities to better respond and meet the needs of Texans before, during and after a hurricane and other natural disasters. We anticipate that these activities and studies will occur over the course of the next 5 years.

What is required to be part of the registry?
-You must be 18 years old or older
-You must have been affected by Hurricane Ike 
-You must complete the Participant Contact Information Form

What happens when you become a member of the registry?
When you become a member of the registry, information from your participant information sheet will be entered into a database that is stored on a secure computer network- only USA Center staff have access to this database. This information will be used to contact you over the next 5 years for activities and research studies related to your evacuation from, sheltering during, and recovery after Hurricane Ike. Your information will not be provided to any other parties and all offers to participate in activities or research studies will be made by and through the USA Center.

What is meant by activities and research studies?
In order to better understand evacuation from, sheltering during, and recovery after Hurricane Ike, the USA Center and its partners will engage in a number of activities and research studies. Some examples of activities and research studies that a registry participant would be invited to participate in might include completing surveys, or participating in interviews or small group discussions. Results from these activities and research studies would be used by state and local entities to meet the needs of Texans before, during and after hurricanes and other natural disasters. Individuals who participate will not be identified in any write-ups of activities or research studies.

Do I have to participate in all activities and research studies I am contacted about as a member of the registry?
By becoming a member of the registry you are only agreeing to be contacted about future activities and research studies. You will have the opportunity to decide about participating in each individual activity and research study as you are contacted. In addition, deciding to not participate in one activity or research study does not exclude you from future opportunities. You may also ask to have your name removed from the registry at any time over the next 5 years.

What is the benefit to me? 
Being a member of the registry does not provide monetary or other compensation. It does offer you the opportunity to participate in future activities and research studies that could improve response before, during and after hurricanes and other natural disasters. In addition, it is possible that registry participants will learn and benefit from activities and research studies in which they are invited to participate.

Whom should I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions about the registry or becoming a member of the registry, please visit our website at www.rural-preparedness.org/hiker or contact the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at 866.964.0857 (toll free) or 979.862.3494 or usacenter@srph.tamhsc.edu. If you would like to be removed from the registry after joining you may also contact the USA Center.