A recent Mason-Dixon poll has found that a high percentage of homeowners remain unprepared for hurricanes and don't take the threat seriously even along the coastal states, which bore the brunt of eight major storms in 2004 and 2005. Officials are especially concerned that homeowners have become immune to the risk of hurricanes due to the 2006 hurricane season, which saw no major hurricanes threatening coastal states. There is also a fear that homeowners have forgotten the lesson of Hurricane Katrina, which left much of New Orleans uninhabitable.
"Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina shocked and horrified the nation, far too many residents are still unprepared for storms," said Bill Proenza, director of the National Hurricane Center. "Last year's below normal hurricane season may have resulted in coastal residents being lulled into a false sense of complacency. This hurricane season promises to be an active one, so it is imperative residents get ready before a storm catches them unprepared."
The Mason-Dixon poll was commissioned by American Initiatives, an organization that launched the 2007 National Hurricane Survival Initiative, which was created to educate residents living in hurricane-vulnerable states about the risks they face and the steps they must take to protect themselves and minimize damage. The poll is one of the leading elements of the initiative, which is a joint public/private outreach partnership that includes the National Hurricane Center, Federal Emergency Management Administration, The National Emergency Management Association, The Salvation Army and the State of North Carolina. Corporate partners in the project include Plylox, Travelers, and AT&T. The survey was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of 1,100 adults in Atlantic and Gulf Coast states between May 10 and May 15, 2007. The margin for error is plus or minus 3 percent. The survey results are as follows:
Fifty three percent of the survey participants reported they didn't feel vulnerable despite the risk of hurricanes, tornados, and flooding.
Fifty two percent have no family disaster plan.
Significantly, 61 percent have no hurricane survival kit, while 16 percent said they would not evacuate their homes even if officials ordered them to do so.
And one of the most distressing finding is that 88 percent of survey participants have taken no steps to mitigate their homes to withstand hurricane-related damage.
Along with the poll's initial findings, the survey found that homeowners also have given little thought to how they would respond if they are seriously threatened by a hurricane. Some said they would wait before evacuating, and nearly 30 percent would travel as far as possible in an effort to outrun the path of the storm. These factors increase the chances of evacuees getting stuck in traffic gridlock and caught on the road. Emergency management officials recommend arranging to stay, in advance, with the nearest friend or relative outside the evacuation area or going to the nearest certified shelter. Additionally, 11 percent of surveyed residents reported being responsible for an elderly or physically disabled person. However, two-thirds of participants have not prepared for transporting at risk family members and ensuring they have a necessary supply of medication.
"All residents, especially those who care for the well-being of friends, family members, and pets, must have a disaster plan," said Craig Fugate, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "Now is the time to get a plan before a storm looms – not when a hurricane warning is issued."
Fugate's warning comes as the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts the 2007 hurricane season will be above normal. NOAA anticipates 13 to 17 named storms, 7 to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which 3 to 5 could become major hurricanes of category 3 strength or higher. "The likelihood of a rough hurricane season ahead amplifies the need to be prepared and informed," said Ron Sachs, executive director of the National Hurricane Survival Initiative. "With the start of this season, residents have another opportunity to do the right thing – that is, to make sure families have an evacuation plan, a survival kit, and the knowledge to stay safe during even the deadliest storm."
Homeowners Lack Preparation
The survey found that many homeowners took a wait-and-see attitude before preparing for a storm. One in four people indicated they would not begin to prepare their home until hurricane conditions were 24 to 36 hours away, and another one in five said they would not prepare their home until hurricane conditions were expected within 24 hours. Many also wait until the last moment to buy food, water and medicine, quickly exhausting supplies on local store shelves. Experts recommend keeping supplies for at least three days on hand for each member of the family and buying those supplies long before a storm approaches. However, 20 percent of surveyed participants believed it was the government's responsibility to provide essential supplies in the first few days after a hurricane – or they weren't sure who should be responsible.
Citizens also carry several misconceptions about storm preparation. Nearly 79 percent do not know storm intensity is the least reliable forecasting projection. Residents may not realize that a category 1 or 2 storm can become a category 4 or 5 at landfall. While attempting to protect their homes, the vast majority of people – 96 percent – didn't know garage doors are the part of a home most likely to fail during a hurricane, yet garage doors can be easily strengthened at a modest cost with a reinforcement kit.
Too many residents of coastal states also believe candles belong in survival kits. To the contrary, candles and kerosene lamps pose a fire hazard, and so emergency experts recommend flashlights instead.
Furthermore, almost half of respondents believed masking tape would keep windows from shattering; masking tape actually offers no protection at all. "It is imperative to reinforce and protect your home. It only takes one gust of wind to break a window allowing storm winds and water to roll right into your house," said Rob Fee, president of Plylox. "Board up those windows, secure your garage doors, make sure you pick up all your lawn furniture, put your barbeque grill in the garage – just be pro-active and plan ahead."
Homeowners are also little prepared for when a storm passes. Typically, more deaths occur after a hurricane due to downed power lines, unstable trees and flooding. Disaster experts warn residents should wait until officials declare an area safe before they return; yet 43 percent of those polled said they would not wait for word from officials before heading home. One in four would return to a hurricane-struck area as soon as the storm passed, putting themselves and their loved ones at risk.
Insurance Key
One of the major factors that homeowners fail to note is the information contained in their homeowners' policies. As many as 44 percent of those surveyed said they have not reviewed their insurance policies with an agent within the last year, some in more than five years. As a result, 21 percent of citizens said they weren't sure their homeowner's insurance policy included replacement coverage. The survey revealed residents might not have sufficient coverage to rebuild if they suffered a catastrophic loss.
Many homeowners were found to be ill-informed on flood coverage. Twenty-five percent of residents did not know standard homeowners' policies do not cover flooding. Twenty-eight percent thought their homeowners' insurance covered flood damage, and another 47 percent said it did not. In fact, flood damage is only covered if homeowners purchase a separate flood insurance policy, such as that offered by the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program. The lack of flood insurance accounts for the largest loss of life from a hurricane, and was shown by Hurricane Katrina where rising water left many people on their roof tops looking to be rescued.
"Property owners should review their insurance coverage with their agent before storm season or on an annual basis to make sure their home or business is properly protected," said Ray Stone, vice president of catastrophe operations at Travelers. "While residents can do a lot to strengthen their homes and businesses, hurricanes are going to cause damage. It's important to make sure individuals have sufficient coverage so that they will be able to rebuild after a major loss."
The national initiation has a new website, www.HurricaneSafety.org, a series of related public service announcements and a 30-minute television program, "The National Hurricane Survival Test." The television program will be broadcast throughout hurricane season on more than 50 television and cable network affiliates from Texas to Maine. Residents are encouraged to visit our website for a list of broadcast partners or to check their local listings for air dates and times. For the full poll results and more information about the 2007 National Hurricane Survival Initiative please visit www.HurricaneSafety.org.
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