Americans have poor memories when it comes to hurricanes

Americans who live in areas which are prone to hurricanes are showing a high level of complacency when it comes to being prepared. A new National Hurricane Survival Initiative poll of coastal residents in nine states shows that many people have not even begun to prepare for what could be a very busy hurricane season; even in Florida, the state that historically has been battered by killer storms, one in three residents say they have no family disaster plan or hurricane survival kit.

Among the most alarming findings of the survey which was given to residents from Virginia to Texas who live within 30 miles of the coast:  45 percent said they don’t feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding; 47 percent have no hurricane survival kit; and 13 percent said they might not or would not evacuate even if ordered to leave, yet nearly half live in evacuation zones.

In the U.S., the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season brought nine tropical storms and only one storm made landfall on the U.S. mainland, causing minor wind and water damage. This year, however, forecasters expect 14 to 23 named storms, of which 8 to 14 could become hurricanes, including 3 to 7 major hurricanes of Category 3, 4 or 5.

74 percent of those surveyed have taken no steps to make their homes stronger, and 36 percent have no family disaster plan.

Even in Florida, where 44 percent of Floridians surveyed live in an evacuation zone and 33 percent have had to evacuate previously because of the threat from a storm, many remain unprepared and unconcerned.

Seventeen percent of Floridians surveyed said they would not evacuate even if ordered. 

Officials warn residents can’t afford to let their guard down and are urging coastal and inland residents to create a family disaster plan; stock a hurricane survival kit containing at least a three-day’s supply of food, water and medicine for each family member; make sure their homeowner’s insurance coverage is adequate, and gather important documents.


http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments