Poll: Many aren't ready for hurricane

By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | cdolinski@tampatrib.com
Published: June 01, 2009

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TALLAHASSEE --

Hurricane season starts today, yet a new poll reveals that many residents of Florida and other coastal states aren't ready. According to the findings from Mason-Dixon Polling and Research:

•83 percent have not taken any steps in the past year to shore up their homes

•66 percent have no hurricane survival kit

•55 percent do not have a family disaster plan

•49 percent lack an inventory of items in their home in case of emergency

•31 percent do not intend to take special measures to prepare their home for a hurricane

The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.

Mason-Dixon polled 1,100 adults in Atlantic and Gulf coastal states by telephone May 6-11. Of those, 56 percent of respondents were in southern and southwest Gulf states, including Florida. The poll was conducted on behalf of the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, a collaboration of government agencies and corporate partners including Travelers Insurance and Plylox.

Catherine Dolinski