Census: We'll get back to you

Coordinators of the 2010 US Census have a response for Wahkiakum County residents who haven't yet received a questionnaire: We'll get back to you.

Census workers have mailed forms to residences, but forms addressed to post office boxes were never delivered.

Postal officials emailed workers in post offices to say that the letters should be returned because census workers want to make sure that one questionnaire went to one residence, and that control was impossible to maintain through use of post office boxes. Postal workers weren't allowed to hand deliver forms to postal box patrons they might know personally, and they weren't allowed to forward letters to snowbirds.

Census workers say that people who didn't receive forms may pick one up at a census office, such as the office in Cathlamet's Scarborough Building, or they may call the Bureau of Census toll free at 1-866-872-6868. Phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week through July 30.

Also, census workers will be contacting residents who did not return a form starting in mid-April through July.

Census workers will have identification when they meet with residents. Census information is confidential.

People who have questions about completing their forms or need forms in an alternative language, can contact the Census Bureau at 1-866-872-6868, English, or 1-866-928-2010, Spanish. Phone line for other languages are also available.

One use of census data is in allocation of funds from state and federal governments. Local census officials say that if there are concerns after July of residents not being counted, people should contact them immediately.