A third of U.S. Gulf Coast residents have expressed doubts about leaving their homes in the event of an evacuation order, according to a new survey.

The poll of high-risk hurricane areas in eight states--Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas--found 33 percent of residents saying if government officials ordered an evacuation due to a major hurricane this season, they would not leave or are unsure if they would evacuate.

The Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security conducted the survey.

Homeowners (39 percent), whites (41 percent) and long-term residents (45 percent) are the groups most likely to ride out a major hurricane.

People with children under 18 are less likely to remain in their homes (26 percent). Mobile-home owners are no more likely to evacuate than the general public.

The top reasons people give for not evacuating center on beliefs about safety and security.

More than two-thirds (68 percent) say their home is well-built and they would be safe there. Just more than half (54 percent) feel that roads would be too crowded, and one in three (36 percent) feel that evacuating would be dangerous. Close to one-third (31 percent) worry that their possessions would be stolen or damaged.

"It will be a challenge for public officials to convince many of these people to leave their homes because they view their homes as safe and evacuating as dangerous," said Robert J. Blendon, professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health.

African-Americans are less likely than whites to say they would stay in their homes if government officials said they had to leave in the event of a major hurricane (23 percent versus 41 percent).

The top reason for both African-Americans and whites for not evacuating is that they feel their homes would be safe (78 percent versus 71 percent), the survey found.

African-Americans who are uncertain they will leave their homes are more likely than whites to cite lack of resources and safety concerns as reasons for staying.

Special Reports /

30% Won't Heed Evacuation Order, Survey Says

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