News Release: Poll Says Coastal Residents Unprepared for Hurricanes

Washington, DC, May 30, 2001 — Nearly 60 percent of residents most at risk from hurricanes are concerned that they and their family are in danger, but only half of them are prepared, according to a national poll released by the American Red Cross.

Specifically, the poll results show that in southern coastal states from North Carolina to Texas — which are the most hurricane-prone — 58 percent of respondents are concerned that they and their families could be in harm's way because of hurricanes and flooding. However, of those, nearly half do not have an evacuation plan (48 percent) or a disaster supplies kit (47 percent), and 30 percent have not made living arrangements in case of forced evacuations.

Along the northern coastline, from Virginia to Maine, only 35 percent of respondents expressed concern about hurricanes and flooding. Less than a quarter (23 percent) have assembled a disaster supplies kit, and only a third (33 percent) have an evacuation plan. Only half of these respondents have made alternate living arrangements with evacuations in mind.

The American Red Cross commissioned the public opinion poll to better understand the level of hurricane preparedness among the nearly 48 million residents living within 177 counties along the U.S. coast from Maine to Texas. The poll, conducted from May 11-21, 2001 by Issues and Answers, Inc., is the second conducted in the past eight months by the American Red Cross. When compared to the September 2000 poll, this year's results show a slight increase in hurricane preparation.

"Our greatest concern is that people have evidently been lulled into a false sense of security because the United States was spared from a major hurricane last year," said American Red Cross Disaster Services Vice President Dr. John Clizbe. "Experts are predicting that this year's hurricane season, unlike last year, will be active and destructive. The dangers of hurricanes are real, and it is imperative that people at risk be prepared."

On the positive side, the coastal residents who have made preparations have taken the issue very seriously. Of those households with an evacuation plan, 80 percent have included their children in the disaster planning process, and 64 percent have made evacuation arrangements for their pets.

Key findings from the Red Cross's national poll include:

• Of those with evacuation plans, 80 percent of those with children have explained the evacuation plan to their children — a significant increase of 58 percent from last year's poll.
• 37 percent of the respondents have assembled a disaster supplies kit that contains the things the family will need if they have to leave home because of a hurricane, up from 30 percent last year.
• 12 percent of the respondents reported that someone in their household has a special need or disability — yet 67 percent of those families have no disaster supplies kit, 53 percent have no evacuation plan and 39 percent have no plan of where to go in case of forced evacuations.

Click here for more findings of the Preparedness Survey

The American Red Cross urges people in areas that are threatened by hurricanes to prepare for whatever storm season may bring by sharing these safety tips with their loved ones:

• Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan
  Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places--a friend's home in another town, a motel or a shelter. Get a good map and be familiar with your community's evacuation routes. Listen to local media broadcasts or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest storm conditions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. In case you have to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter, be sure to bring medications, extra clothing, pillows and blankets and other hygiene and comfort supplies for all members of your family. Be sure to also make advance preparations for your pets, which aren't allowed in Red Cross shelters.

• Assemble a Family Disaster Supplies Kit
  Have emergency supplies set aside for all members of your household, including essential medications, non-perishable food and a non-electric can opener, bottled water (at least three gallons per day per person), a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, extra clothes, important documents, cash and credit cards, a first aid kit and other special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members and pets.

• Prepare for High Winds
  Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through. Install permanent shutters on your windows and add protection to the outside areas of sliding glass doors. Strengthen garage doors. Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.

For more information regarding how individuals and families can prepare for disasters visit www.redcross.org and www.disasterrelief.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $2.7 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide. Bernadine Healy, M.D., is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.