Survey Finds Alarming Lack of Hurricane Knowledge

[RitaZ.]

POSTED: 5:24 pm EDT May 16, 2006
UPDATED: 6:01 pm EDT May 16, 2006

MIAMI -- Even though the southern United States has been through two devastating hurricane seasons, a regional survey shows that a high percentage of residents still aren't prepared.

"Katrina was quite a national wake-up call, yet it seems too many residents are still asleep," said Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center director. "We're facing another active and potentially deadly season in just a few weeks. It's vital that residents of hurricane-vulnerable states take the threat seriously and get prepared."

The survey, that included residents who live within 30 miles of the coast, found some startling results. Of those surveyed:

#
# 56 percent don't feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding
# 60 percent have no family disaster plan
# 68 percent have no hurricane survival kit
# 83 percent have taken no steps to make their homes stronger
13 percent said they might not or would not evacuate even if ordered to leave

Experts say that not evacuating could leave tens of thousands of lives at risk. Of the 13 percent of residents who said they are responsible for an elderly or disabled person, one in three had no disaster plan for them if a hurricane threatened.

Correct Information Could Save Your Life

#
One in five people surveyed said they would leave only 12 to 24 hours before a storm makes landfall, and one in three said they would drive as far as possible, trying to outrun the storm. (Emergency managers say residents should only go as far as necessary to find a safe shelter outside the evacuation zone.)

#
The deadly threat of storm surge was one of the most serious knowledge gaps revealed by the survey. Of those surveyed, 68 percent did not know storm surge represents the greatest potential for loss of life from a hurricane. (Experts say storm surge can account for deaths well inland yet 13 percent of coastal residents said they would not or might not evacuate even if ordered to do so.)

#
The survey also revealed as many as a third of residents may not be adequately insured. One in three of those surveyed said it's been three years or longer since they reviewed their insurance coverage and an equal number said they didn't have or weren't sure if they had replacement coverage. Given the huge growth in property values in many areas, these residents may not have adequate coverage to rebuild if they suffered catastrophic losses.

#
In addition, more than half of those surveyed thought their insurance policies covered flood damage or weren't sure. In fact, homeowners only have flood protection if they have purchased federal flood insurance.

#
More than one in four surveyed said it's government's responsibility to provide water, food, medicine and shelter in the first few days after a hurricane - or weren't sure who should be responsible. (Officials say every resident should have a three-day supply of food, water and medicines.)

#
Nearly half said they would not wait for officials to declare it safe to return, but would return to a hurricane-struck area as soon as the storm passed. (Most deaths associated with hurricanes happen after the storm.)

#
Nearly half said their employers likely would not know where they were going or how to reach them after a storm. (Officials say recovery depends on businesses having a plan to get back into operation quickly after a storm, which requires knowing how to reach their workforce.)

Other problems pointed out by the survey included:

#
94 percent didn't know that garage doors are the structural component most likely to fail during a hurricane. (Garage doors can be easily strengthened at modest cost with a reinforcement kit.)

#
70 percent wrongly thought most tornadoes occur within three miles of the eye of the storm. (Tornadoes associated with land-falling hurricanes are spawned in rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm.)

#
81 percent did not know that storm intensity is the least reliable forecasting projection. (A Category 1 or 2 storm could be a Category 4 or 5 at landfall.)

#
50 percent still thought masking tape would help keep windows from shattering. (Masking tape offers no protective value at all.)

#
67 percent thought candles or kerosene lamps are suggested items to use in the event of a power failure. (Emergency experts warn that candles and kerosene lamps are significant safety hazards.)

Overall, Florida residents, who have weathered the most storms by far, and residents of Southern states were more prepared and knew more about hurricanes than those in more northern states. But coastal residents, even those who live near the coast, were no more prepared nor did they fare better on a quiz of hurricane facts than those who live further inland.

"We are beginning to make progress in creating a culture of preparedness among Florida residents," said Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings. "But, as the last hurricane season taught us, hurricanes are unpredictable, and no one is immune."

The one in bold letters really has me .

 

[Evil Queen]

POSTED: 5:24 pm EDT May 16, 2006
UPDATED: 6:01 pm EDT May 16, 2006

MIAMI -- Even though the southern United States has been through two devastating hurricane seasons, a regional survey shows that a high percentage of residents still aren't prepared.

"Katrina was quite a national wake-up call, yet it seems too many residents are still asleep," said Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center director. "We're facing another active and potentially deadly season in just a few weeks. It's vital that residents of hurricane-vulnerable states take the threat seriously and get prepared."

The survey, that included residents who live within 30 miles of the coast, found some startling results. Of those surveyed:

#
# 56 percent don't feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding
# 60 percent have no family disaster plan
# 68 percent have no hurricane survival kit
# 83 percent have taken no steps to make their homes stronger
13 percent said they might not or would not evacuate even if ordered to leave

Experts say that not evacuating could leave tens of thousands of lives at risk. Of the 13 percent of residents who said they are responsible for an elderly or disabled person, one in three had no disaster plan for them if a hurricane threatened.

Correct Information Could Save Your Life

#
One in five people surveyed said they would leave only 12 to 24 hours before a storm makes landfall, and one in three said they would drive as far as possible, trying to outrun the storm. (Emergency managers say residents should only go as far as necessary to find a safe shelter outside the evacuation zone.)

#
The deadly threat of storm surge was one of the most serious knowledge gaps revealed by the survey. Of those surveyed, 68 percent did not know storm surge represents the greatest potential for loss of life from a hurricane. (Experts say storm surge can account for deaths well inland yet 13 percent of coastal residents said they would not or might not evacuate even if ordered to do so.)

#
The survey also revealed as many as a third of residents may not be adequately insured. One in three of those surveyed said it's been three years or longer since they reviewed their insurance coverage and an equal number said they didn't have or weren't sure if they had replacement coverage. Given the huge growth in property values in many areas, these residents may not have adequate coverage to rebuild if they suffered catastrophic losses.

#
In addition, more than half of those surveyed thought their insurance policies covered flood damage or weren't sure. In fact, homeowners only have flood protection if they have purchased federal flood insurance.

#
More than one in four surveyed said it's government's responsibility to provide water, food, medicine and shelter in the first few days after a hurricane - or weren't sure who should be responsible. (Officials say every resident should have a three-day supply of food, water and medicines.)

#
Nearly half said they would not wait for officials to declare it safe to return, but would return to a hurricane-struck area as soon as the storm passed. (Most deaths associated with hurricanes happen after the storm.)

#
Nearly half said their employers likely would not know where they were going or how to reach them after a storm. (Officials say recovery depends on businesses having a plan to get back into operation quickly after a storm, which requires knowing how to reach their workforce.)

Other problems pointed out by the survey included:

#
94 percent didn't know that garage doors are the structural component most likely to fail during a hurricane. (Garage doors can be easily strengthened at modest cost with a reinforcement kit.)

#
70 percent wrongly thought most tornadoes occur within three miles of the eye of the storm. (Tornadoes associated with land-falling hurricanes are spawned in rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm.)

#
81 percent did not know that storm intensity is the least reliable forecasting projection. (A Category 1 or 2 storm could be a Category 4 or 5 at landfall.)

#
50 percent still thought masking tape would help keep windows from shattering. (Masking tape offers no protective value at all.)

#
67 percent thought candles or kerosene lamps are suggested items to use in the event of a power failure. (Emergency experts warn that candles and kerosene lamps are significant safety hazards.)

Overall, Florida residents, who have weathered the most storms by far, and residents of Southern states were more prepared and knew more about hurricanes than those in more northern states. But coastal residents, even those who live near the coast, were no more prepared nor did they fare better on a quiz of hurricane facts than those who live further inland.

"We are beginning to make progress in creating a culture of preparedness among Florida residents," said Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings. "But, as the last hurricane season taught us, hurricanes are unpredictable, and no one is immune."

The one in bold letters really has me .

And to me 3 days is not enough. It was that many days before the local grocery store even opened. And any canned food or water would go quick.

I use to have 3 days worth of food/supplies, this year my plan is based around 7 days. It took 9 days for power for me after Wilma.

 

[Chicago526]

This is just amazing to me. I live in the midwest where tornados are a way of life. While you don't have to prepare for them in the way you do a hurricane, you still need to know what to do when the sirens go off! There isn't a single person (unless they just moved here from other parts of the country) in the midwest that doesn't know exactly what to do and how to take shelter. They may ignore the advice, but they can't say they didn't know what to do!

If most people in huricane country are this poorly informed, I think the major problem is with the government and local media not getting the word out. They should be blanketing the area with all of this info. Insurance companies should be required to inform their customers exactly what is covered and what isn't, in plan English and not insurance-speak. It should be taught to kids in schools, so when they grow up they know all this stuff (and maybe can inform their parents at home!). If after all of this, people choose to ignore it, well, then they have no one to blame but themselves.

I do have a question though. What happens if a manditory evac is ordered, but your employer forces you to stay, saying that if you leave and don't show up for work, you'll be fired? I'm not talking about emergency response workers or medical personel, but just the worker. I wonder if a lot of people don't evacuate because they can't afford the time off or risk losing their jobs?

 

[Evil Queen]

I think so many people, after all those years of not getting hit (I can only speak for my county, Palm Beach) they don't seem to take it so seriously or think it won't be that bad.

I have always prepared for storms, the shutters, supplies, the whole thing, and I still wasn't prepared for what they can do or the mental after effects, especially in children.

When people ask about supplies, not only do I tell them the basics they need (but I now have upped the 3 day food/supplies to 7) but land lines (the ones that plug right into the wall), if you don't lose your phone power you have a phone still. Cell phone towers failed here, plus you wouldn't believe how many cell phone owners don't have chargers to work in their cars. Can't charge without power. This happened to my son. Board games for the kids. The kids, to me, need to get back to some sort of normalcy. This is tough on adults, imagine to be a child.

My DS10 helps with supplies, setting up the safe room, going over our family plan, etc. He has been great these last couple of years during the storm. After the storm is what gets him. He cried between us getting Frances and Jeanne, and not because of the actual storm but the power being out after. I felt isolated from the world, and we had radios and phones, but nothing else, I could imagine how he flt, or even worse those people who didn't even have that.

Board games were great for all of us. We would work on the yard during the day hours, while we would grill dinner, we would play a board game before it got dark.

 

[RitaZ.]

If there is a mandatory evacuation, I doubt that any businesses in the evacuation area remain open. What for? I'm not in an evacuation area, but everything closes around here when we have a hurricane warning. Of course, that doesn't apply to emergency personnel, they have to go to work.

You would have to be living under a rock to not know about hurricane preparation. I think the state and local governments in our state have done more than enough to inform the public. I mean, the information is all over the place. Before hurricane season officially starts, residents are warned that the time to prepare is before the season starts. The news stations talk about it ad nauseam and they all have special programs dedicated to hurricane preparation. The grocery stores, as well as home improvement stores, have the hurricane preparation guides. Some of my neighbors do absolutely nothing to prepare the exterior of the homes. There was one neighbor that never put up shutters or plywood because as he put it, "He needs new windows anyway." He was fully aware of the danger, but chose to do nothing about it, except to make conversation with every other neighbor that was working outside securing their home. I think it's one of those situations where you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Regardless of the information level the goverment provides, there will always be residents that choose to do nothing. To me, that defies logic.

There are residents that simply can't afford to evacuate, so they stay put. Some simply refuse to leave, others want to "experience" a hurricane. There is nothing fun about experiencing a hurricane, it's scary as heck. Toward the end of Wilma, I started to panic. The noise from glass breaking, debris hitting our roof, the garage door bowing, the constant freight train sound of the wind for several hours, etc. It's enough to make you crack! One of our friends took sleeping pills during one of the hurricanes because he couldn't take the noise of his neighbor's fence hitting the side of his house. Not something I'd recommend, you need to be awake in case the conditions become life threatening.

One thing I learned with Wilma is that you can't wait for the government to come and bail you out. I mean, you can if you have to or want to, but don't expect a quick response. The rescue efforts can't be coordinated that fast and the roads may not be passable to the areas that are worst hit. A generator is a convenience, but not essential to survival. Just having an emergency supply of water and canned food will guarantee that you won't starve for a few days. There has to be some degree of personal responsibility, the government can't and shouldn't have to do that for every resident.

 

[wdw4us2]

The biggest problem is that there are so many new residents in Florida who don't listen to the information regarding hurricanes that is all around you.

Every year before the start of hurricane season the local newspapers have a Hurricane Preparedness guide in them as well as Hurricane Fairs in local shopping malls. These same guides are available in local grocery stores free of charge. If you know how to read, there is plenty of information out there to enable you to be ready for a storm.

I don't know why people think it's the governments' responsibility to provide food and water if your area is hit by a storm. In my 34 years of living in Florida, both with my parents and as an adult, I've always been prepared for the storms before they hit. Even if you are on a fixed income, if you purchase a little at a time in the months before hurricane season starts you can be prepared.

I will admit that it took my DH (transplanted Yankee) years to take these preparations seriously. He always thought I was being melodramatic until the year we were hammered by a Tropical Storm. If that wasn't enough, when we received direct hits from Frances and Jeanne in 2004 he finally broke down and bought a generator. That sure came in handy last year when we were hit by Wilma!

 

[RitaZ.]

Lisa, my husband is a FL native. His family came to FL in the 50's. Like Evil Queen said, after so many years of not being seriously hit by a hurricane, people have become complacent. I mean, there have been many times that we prepared and we weren't hit. Before Andrew hit, DH didn't take the preparations all that seriously. After Andrew, he totally changed his attitude. He is a relaxed and calm man, but when the garage door was bowing and creaking during Wilma, he looked worried. That's when I knew that it was time to go in the closet, which he still refused to do. He decided to lay down in our bed and read a book. Well, at least I got him to come into our bedroom with me and the kids.

 

[Quinn222]

We always have at least a week supply of food and water. We were dumbfounded and furious last year when the day after a storm people were complaining because they weren't getting free water and ice fast enough. It's not like it was a secret a storm was coming and water and ice are not expensive items to get. We (Fl residents) are told in April, every single year that it's time to stock up on water, ice and canned goods. there is just no excuse for not being at least a little prepared. We also are given guides free from the newspapers, supermarkets, tv stations etcetera with lists of everything we need and what we need to do to prepare. Poverty is certainly an issue but we also have shelters for free for those who need them.

Last time we evacuated to St. Pete, what a pain. Next time we'll probably head for Orlando.

 

[wdw4us2]

Rita - You're lucky your DH is a Florida native. When we moved here, we were fortunate to be in a neighborhood of Florida Crackers who gave us all the necessary Florida information: hurricanes, gators, love bugs, sand spurs, well water, etc.

Our kids always help out with the preparations. When we were getting ready for Hurricane Frances my DH (who was 12 at the time) was helping me put up the plywood with the Tapcon screws and a drill. I told her her Grandfather was smiling down on her from Heaven. See, my Dad made sure I knew how to use all kinds of tools by the time I was 10. We don't have to deal with the plywood anymore - our panels finally arrived before the start of the 2005 season.