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Apathy Feared After Florida Spared From Hurricanes

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

TAMPA - Florida wraps up a second straight year without a hurricane next Friday amid signs that people have forgotten the pummeling the state took in the two previous years.

Sales of portable generators, tied closely to hurricane preparation, are off by half, says manufacturer Briggs & Stratton Corp., and there are questions about the continued worth of the state's little-used sales-tax holiday on storm-related purchases.

Unless something highly unexpected forms, the current June through November season will be the second in a row when Florida wasn't even threatened by a serious storm.

The state was hit by a single, weak tropical storm this year, Barry, which did more good than harm: The rainfall ended fears of a major wildfire season.

State meteorologist Ben Nelson called June's Barry, with its widespread rain and minimal winds, one of the most beneficial tropical storms to hit the state.

That leads many to predict complacency.

"The problem with Florida is after a couple years people forget about it. They all relax," said Tony Caraballo of Valrico.

But Caraballo, sales manager for a service company, said 21 years in the military taught him to have his home and family ready: "We always get prepared ahead of time."

Preparation Falling Off

The head of the state Division of Emergency Management, Craig Fugate, also predicts Floridians will take the coming season less seriously.

"Will the public become more apathetic? Absolutely. The further we get away from an active hurricane season, the more complacent people will become," Fugate said.

This could mean people will do less to prepare for the next hurricane season, especially those who were not hit by a big one from previous seasons ‑ Charley, Francis, Ivan or Wilma.

"People who went through the hurricane part will not forget," Fugate added. "Others, after a couple years with no storms, with the economy tight, pocketbooks are tight, we're asking people to do something extra.

"We don't have hurricanes to motivate them. We have to rely on our history."

Portable generators were the must-have item after storms in 2004 and 2005. But Briggs & Stratton Corp., the country's largest manufacturer of them, says in financial statements that sales of the devices dropped have 47 percent compared to a year ago. First-quarter sales were off 66 percent over the same period in 2006.

The company also said generator sales in 2006 received some boost from Florida's 12-day suspension of sales tax on items to prepare for hurricanes, including generators. But this year, the company described the benefit of the state's tax holiday as "negligible".

Said Fugate, "Each year we get fewer and fewer people to take advantage of it."

Tax Break Little Used

Two slow seasons, lack of use and a sputtering economy mean the sales tax break may not return in 2008, Fugate said. It's costing the state less in lost revenues with fewer people using it, but lawmakers have their eye on every penny: They met in an October special session to trim the current state budget by $1.1 billion and may do so again.

Connie and Brad Jenkins would keep taking advantage of the sales tax holiday.

The Wesley Chapel couple this year bought film to help protect their windows and don't plan to lower their guard next season. They always buy batteries, water and non-perishable food. Next year's plans: a portable radio and reinforcing the garage door.

The Jenkinses, though, doubt other Floridians are as thorough.

"Anything out of sight is out of mind," Brad Jenkins said.

Jay Baker, a Florida State University professor who conducts behavioral surveys on hurricane evacuations for state and local governments, agrees hurricane preparation may dwindle after two quiet seasons.

"It wouldn't surprise me if general preparedness drops off," Baker said.

But he doesn't see that stifling a timely reaction to evacuation orders.

"Hurricane experience doesn't make as much difference in whether people evacuate or not," he said.

Experience with hurricanes will keep Charlene Henderson alert.

A resident of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea who also has a house in Tampa, Henderson has been through her share of hurricanes and said she will stay ready.

"I take any hurricane seriously," she said.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be contacted at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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