COASTAL STATE RESIDENTS FAIL HURRICANE SAFETY TEST

Adults who live in states that front the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico lack a significant
level of knowledge about hurricanes and how to best prepare for them. When asked a 20 question 
test about hurricane-related facts and issues, the average coastal state adult was only able to 
answer 8 correctly  with an overall average of 42 on a 100-point scale. Only 22% were able to 
answer more than 10 of the 20 questions correctly, and only 2% got a C grade or better by 
answering 14 or more correct (70 on a 100-point scale). An additional 9% passed with a D 
(60-69 on a 100-point scale). Overall, 89% failed the test.

Of more concern is that adults who lived within 10 miles of the coast did not score higher than 
those who lived inland. Both groups of adults averaged 8 correct answers out of 20. Those who 
had experienced a hurricane before only scored marginally higher than those who have not  
averaging 9 correct answers and an overall average of 44 on a 100-point scale.

HURRICANE TEST  CORRECT ANSWERS OUT OF 20 QUESTIONS
OVERALL
AVERAGE CORRECT 8 
TOTAL SCORE (100 point scale) 42

CLOSE LIVE TO COAST?
10 miles or less
AVERAGE CORRECT 8
TOTAL SCORE (100 point scale) 41

CLOSE LIVE TO COAST?
>10 miles
AVERAGE CORRECT 8
TOTAL SCORE (100 point scale) 42

BEEN IN HURRICANE?
YES
AVERAGE CORRECT 9
TOTAL SCORE (100 point scale) 44

BEEN IN HURRICANE?
NO
AVERAGE CORRECT 8
TOTAL SCORE (100 point scale) 41

Three of the important questions that a large majority of adults got wrong dealt with the most
dangerous components of hurricanes. Only 20% correctly identified storm surge as the greatest 
threat to human life from a land-falling hurricane, and only 15% knew that the majority of 
hurricane fatalities from drowning have occurred in inland counties. Only 29% knew that 
tornadoes associated with hurricanes are spawned in the rain bands that are hundreds of miles 
from the eye of the storm  the large majority thought these tornados were generally limited to 
within three miles of the eye.

They also gave wrong answers on several questions related to hurricane-force winds, such as:

-96% did not know that a garage door is the most likely structural element to fail first in a 
hurricane, and

-54% thought that masking tape will prevent windows from shattering.

This lack of hurricane knowledge combined with the lack of preparedness most residents 
expressed is a recipe for disaster. This lack of preparation is evidenced by the fact that:

- Only 53% of households say they have a plan if their home is threatened by a serious 
hurricane,

- Only 43% say they feel vulnerable to hurricanes or hurricane-related damage,

- Only 22% admit that there home could be secured or prepared for a hurricane in a few hours  
most said they would not begin to prepare until a hurricane watch or warning was issued.

Those who live within 10 miles of the coast appear to be somewhat more prepared, as 63% have a 
hurricane plan, 54% feel vulnerable and 26% could have their homes secured in a few hours. 
Those who have experienced a hurricane also appear to be better prepared than most, with 70% 
having a plan, 51% feeling vulnerable and 28% could have their home secured in a few hours. 
However, as these results demonstrate, even among the most directly threatened or 
hurricane-experienced adults, many do not feel vulnerable and are not prepared.

Finally, evacuation could present problems in the event of a major hurricane. A significant 42% 
said they would only evacuate if emergency officials ordered them to do so, and 19% said they 
would probably not evacuate if ordered  including 14% who said they would not leave under any 
circumstances. Only 38% said they would evacuate ahead of an actual order, with most (21%) 
saying that they would only leave early if the hurricane was Category 3 or higher.

Even among those who live within 10 miles of the coast, 16% said they would probably not 
evacuate, and among those who have experienced a hurricane, an even higher 20% said they would 
probably not evacuate. Only 33% of coastal residents would evacuate early, as would only 39% of 
those who have experienced a hurricane before.

APRIL 2005 HURRICANE AWARENESS POLL RESULTS
1,100 adults in Atlantic and Gulf coastal states interviewed bytelephone April 20-26, 2005 by 
Mason-Dixon Polling & Research,Inc. of Washington, D.C. The margin for error is +/-3%.

QUESTION: Have you ever experienced any of the following?

A Tropical Storm? 
YES 62% 
NO 38%

A Minimal/Category 1 hurricane? 
YES 53% 
NO 47%

A Category 2 hurricane? 
YES 37% 
NO 63%

A Major/Category 3 or higher hurricane? 
YES 32% 
NO 68%

QUESTION: How vulnerable do you feel to damage from ahurricane or related tornado or flooding 
hazards? Do youfeel:

Extremely Vulnerable 12% 
Somewhat Vulnerable 31% 
Not Too Vulnerable 32% 
Not At All Vulnerable 24% 
Not Sure (DO NOT READ) 1%

QUESTION: Do you have a plan for what you would do if aserious hurricane threatened your home, 
or not?

Yes 53%
No 47%

QUESTION: When would you begin to prepare your home for ahurricane? (LIST READ)

19% - When a hurricane watch is issued 
32% - When a hurricane warning is issued 
22%  Your home is already prepared and could be
secured within a few hours 
26% - You wont make any special preparations to yourhome 
1%  Not Sure (NOT READ)

QUESTION: When would you evacuate? (LIST READ)

7% - If a hurricane watch was issued for your area 
10% - If a hurricane warning was issued for your area 
21% - If a Category 3 hurricane or stronger was going to hit your home within 24 hours 
42% - If emergency management officials ordered you toevacuate 
19% - Probably never 
1%  Not Sure (NOT READ)

QUESTION: If you needed to evacuate, where would you go?

33% - To a local shelter 
19% - To the house of a nearby friend 
27% - As far as possible  trying to outsmart the path of the storm 
14% - You would not leave under any circumstances 
7% - Not Sure (NOT READ)

The rest of my survey questions are actually a quiz to seehow much you know about hurricanes 
and hurricane safetyissues. I will read you the question and the possibleanswers and want you 
to tell me which one you think is thecorrect response.

QUESTION: The biggest potential threat to human life from aland-falling hurricane is:
A - Wind 32%
B - Tornadoes 24%
C - Storm Surge 20%
D - Inland flooding 24%

(Correct Answer: C - Storm Surge)

QUESTION: The structural component that most often failsduring hurricane force winds is:
A - Garage door 4%
B - A windward-facing wall 1%
C  Roof 49%
D  Windows 46%

(Correct Answer: A - Garage door)

QUESTION: During an approaching major hurricane, low-lyingescape routes are usually cut off:
A - At landfall 9%
B - Near the eye of the storm 6%
C - 30 minutes to one hour before landfall 24%
D  At least three hours before landfall and much earlier than that in vulnerable areas 61%

(Correct Answer: D  At least three hours before landfall and much earlier than that in 
vulnerable areas)

QUESTION: For those ordered to evacuate, the best option is to:
A - Travel as far inland as possible asfast as possible 24%
B - Choose a route at right angles to theprojected path of the storm 12%
C - Drive immediately to the nearestdesignated shelter 30%
D - Arrange in advance to stay with anearby friend whose home is outside theevacuation zone 34%

(Correct Answer: D - Arrange in advance to stay with anearby friend whose home is outside 
the evacuation zone)

QUESTION: Preparations to prevent serious property damageduring a hurricane can be accomplished:
A - Within the time provided by a Hurricane Watch 37%
B - Within the time provided by a Hurricane Warning 23%
C - In most cases, only with weeks of planning, inspection and retrofitting 40%

(Correct Answer: C - In most cases, only with weeks of planning, inspection and retrofitting)

QUESTION: One item your Disaster Preparation Kit should not contain is:
A  Cash 19%
B  Candles 22%
C  Keys 26% 
D - Important documents 33%

(Correct Answer: B - Candles)

QUESTION: Hurricane forecasting experts generally agree that:
A - The active 2004 Hurricane Season was a fluke that will not be repeated anytime soon 8%
B - We have entered an era of declining hurricane activity 1%
C - Hurricane activity has remained fairly consistent for more than a century 23%
D - We have entered an era of increasing hurricane activity 68%

(Correct Answer: D - We have entered an era of increasing hurricane activity 68%)

QUESTION: Geographically, the majority of hurricanefatalities from drowning in the past 33 
years have occurred:
A - On the open water 7% 
B - Within two miles of the coast 19%
C - In inland counties 15%
D - In coastal counties 59%

(Correct Answer: C - In inland counties)

QUESTION: Of the 10 most costly catastrophes in the UnitedStates, how of them many were 
Hurricanes or Tropical Storms?
A  One 1% 
B  Three 25% 
C  Five 39%
D  Eight 35%

(Correct Answer: D  Eight)

QUESTION: If you are not ordered to evacuate, the safest place in a home to ride out a hurricane 
is:

A - Inside your car in the garage -
B - The exterior room farthest away from the direction of the strongest wind 8%
C - The most interior room of the house 42%
D - The basement 50%

(Correct Answer: C - The most interior room of the house)

QUESTION: What type of hazard during a hurricane does standard homeowners insurance not cover?
A  Lightning 17%
B  Flooding 60%
C - Wind 8%
D - Falling trees 15%

(Correct Answer: B  Flooding)

QUESTION: Most tornadoes associated with land-falling hurricanes are spawned:

A - In rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm 29%
B - In the eye wall 12%
C - Within 1 mile of the eye of the storm 22%
D - Within 3 miles of the eye of the storm 37%

(Correct Answer: A - In rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm)

QUESTION: Although forecasting has improved greatly inrecent years, the projection you can rely 
least on is:
A  Direction of the storm 39%
B - Intensity at landfall 18%
C  Duration of the storm 22% 
D - Forward speed 21%

(Correct Answer: B - Intensity at landfall)

QUESTION: A hurricane watch means:
A - Hurricane season has begun 5% 
B - A hurricane has formed over open water 16% 
C - A hurricane may strike somewhere in the United States within a few days 11%
D - Hurricane conditions are possible in your area within 36 hours 68%

(Correct Answer: D - Hurricane conditions are possible in your area within 36 hours)

QUESTION: A hurricane warning means:
A - A hurricane has formed over open water 8%
B - A hurricane may strike somewhere in the United States within a few days 7%
C - A hurricane may strike your area within 36 hours 23%
D - Hurricane conditions are expected in your area within 24 hours 62%

(Correct Answer: D - Hurricane conditions are expected in your area within 24 hours)

QUESTION: Where should you take your pets if you must evacuate?
A - To a safe location that has agreed or beendesignated to accept pets during a storm 36%
B - To the shelter where youll be staying 35% 
C - To the local animal shelter 7% 
D - To your veterinarians office 7% 
E  Leave them in your home with a 3-day supply of food and water. 15%

(Correct Answer: A - To a safe location that has agreed or beendesignated to accept pets during 
a storm)

The final four quiz questions are True or Falsequestions.
QUESTION: True or False? Masking tape will help prevent windows from shattering.
True 54%
False 46% (Correct)

QUESTION: True or False? Some insurance companies offersignificant discounts on home insurance for hurricane-proofing your home.
True 69% (Correct)
False 31%

QUESTION: True or False? Candles are a good source of lightin the event of a power failure.
True 56%
False 44% (Correct)

QUESTION: True or False? Opening a window on the shelteredside of house lessens the potential for wind damage.
True 38%
False 62% (Correct)

NUMBER OF CORRECT RESPONSES:
1-	0 	-
2- 	0	-
3- 	20	(2%)
4-	49	(5%)
5-	104	(10%)
6-	117	(11%)
7-	137	(13%)
8-	137	(13%)
9-	180	(16%)
10-	116	(11%)
11-	118 	(11%)
12-	61	(6%)
13-	32	(3%)
14-	12	(1%)
15-	12	(1%)
16-	1	*
17-	1	*
18-	1	*
19-	0	-
20-	0	-

AVERAGE 8.35 correct 
SCORE 41.75 on 100 point scale


DEMOGRAPHICS:

-Do you live in:
Detached House 829 (75%) 
Townhouse 75 (7%)
Apartment or Condo 122 (11%)
Mobile home 71 (7%)
Refused (NOT READ) 3

-How long have you lived in your current residence?
Less than 2 years 111 (10%) 
2 to 5 years 177 (16%) 
6 to 10 years 168 (15%)
More than 10 years 642 (58%)
Refused 2

-Do you live:
In sight of the ocean 21 (2%)
Within 3 miles of the coast 57 (5%)
More than 3 miles but less than 10 miles from the coast 130 (12%)
More than 10 miles from the coast 890 (81%)
DK/Refused (NOT READ) 2

AGE: 
18-34 244 (22%)
35-49 317 (29%)
50-64 297 (27%)
65+ 239 (22%)
Refused 3

RACE/ETHNICITY:
White/Caucasian 803 (73%) 
Black/African American 172 (16%) 
Hispanic/Latino 105 (10%) 
Other/Refused 20 (2%)

SEX: 
Male 532 (48%)
Female 568 (52%)

REGION: 
Southeast 300 (27%) 
Southwest Gulf 285 (26%) 
Mid-Atlantic 205 (19%) 
Northeast 310 (28%)

SOUTHEAST: 
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina & North Carolina.
SOUTHWEST GULF: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & Texas.
MID-ATLANTIC: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware & New Jersey.
NORTHEAST: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,New Hampshire & Maine.

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 1 (STORM SURGE)
OVERALL
20%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
16%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
21%
MEN
27%
WOMEN
14%
SOUTHEAST
23%
SOUTHWEST GULF
23%
MID-ATLANTIC
18%
NORTHEAST
16%
EXPERIENCED STORM
23%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
13%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 2 (GARAGE DOOR)
OVERALL
4%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
3%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
4%
MEN
2%
WOMEN
5%
SOUTHEAST
8%
SOUTHWEST GULF
4%
MID-ATLANTIC
3%
NORTHEAST
-
EXPERIENCED STORM
5%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
2%


CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 3 (AT LEAST 3 HOURS)
OVERALL
61%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
63%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
60%
MEN
56%
WOMEN
66%
SOUTHEAST
64%
SOUTHWEST GULF
64%
MID-ATLANTIC
59%
NORTHEAST
57%
EXPERIENCED STORM
64%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
55%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 4 (STAY WITH FRIEND)
OVERALL
34%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
42%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
33%
MEN
30%
WOMEN
39%
SOUTHEAST
35%
SOUTHWEST GULF
42%
MID-ATLANTIC
29%
NORTHEAST
30%
EXPERIENCED STORM
36%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
30%


CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 5 (WEEKS OF PLANNING)
OVERALL
40%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
33%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
42%
MEN
47%
WOMEN
35%
SOUTHEAST
46%
SOUTHWEST GULF
37%
MID-ATLANTIC
42%
NORTHEAST
37%
EXPERIENCED STORM
43%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
35%
CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 6 (CANDLES)
OVERALL
22%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
27%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
21%
MEN
19%
WOMEN
25%
SOUTHEAST
20%
SOUTHWEST GULF
31%
MID-ATLANTIC
22%
NORTHEAST
16%
EXPERIENCED STORM
21%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
23%
15

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 7 (INCREASING ERA)
OVERALL
68%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
68%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
68%
MEN
65%
WOMEN
70%
SOUTHEAST
74%
SOUTHWEST GULF
67%
MID-ATLANTIC
66%
NORTHEAST
63%
EXPERIENCED STORM
73%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
57%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 8 (INLAND COUNTIES)
OVERALL
15%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
10%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
16%
MEN
15%
WOMEN
15%
SOUTHEAST
13%
SOUTHWEST GULF
14%
MID-ATLANTIC
21%
NORTHEAST
15%
EXPERIENCED STORM
15%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
16%
16

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 9 (EIGHT)
OVERALL
35%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
41%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
33%
MEN
38%
WOMEN
32%
SOUTHEAST
33%
SOUTHWEST GULF
34%
MID-ATLANTIC
37%
NORTHEAST
36%
EXPERIENCED STORM
35%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
33%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 10 (INTERIOR ROOM)
OVERALL
42%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
52%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
40%
MEN
40%
WOMEN
45%
SOUTHEAST
44%
SOUTHWEST GULF
58%
MID-ATLANTIC
28%
NORTHEAST
37%
EXPERIENCED STORM
47%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
32%
17

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 11 (FLOODING)
OVERALL
60%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
52%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
62%
MEN
61%
WOMEN
60%
SOUTHEAST
60%
SOUTHWEST GULF
65%
MID-ATLANTIC
55%
NORTHEAST
60%
EXPERIENCED STORM
62%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
56%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 12 (RAIN BANDS)
OVERALL
29%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
11%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
33%
MEN
32%
WOMEN
26%
SOUTHEAST
28%
SOUTHWEST GULF
38%
MID-ATLANTIC
29%
NORTHEAST
21%
EXPERIENCED STORM
31%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
25%
18

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 13 (LANDFALL INTENSITY)
OVERALL
18%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
16%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
18%
MEN
18%
WOMEN
18%
SOUTHEAST
19%
SOUTHWEST GULF
21%
MID-ATLANTIC
16%
NORTHEAST
15%
EXPERIENCED STORM
18%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
17%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 14 (POSSIBLE WITHIN 36 HOURS)
OVERALL
68%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
67%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
68%
MEN
68%
WOMEN
68%
SOUTHEAST
74%
SOUTHWEST GULF
66%
MID-ATLANTIC
63%
NORTHEAST
66%
EXPERIENCED STORM
68%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
68%
19

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 15 (EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS)
OVERALL
62%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
63%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
62%
MEN
60%
WOMEN
64%
SOUTHEAST
62%
SOUTHWEST GULF
53%
MID-ATLANTIC
69%
NORTHEAST
66%
EXPERIENCED STORM
60%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
66%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 16 (DESIGNATED LOCATION)
OVERALL
36%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
34%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
37%
MEN
34%
WOMEN
39%
SOUTHEAST
33%
SOUTHWEST GULF
37%
MID-ATLANTIC
35%
NORTHEAST
39%
EXPERIENCED STORM
40%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
28%
20

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 17 (TAPE - FALSE)
OVERALL
46%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
47%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
46%
MEN
43%
WOMEN
48%
SOUTHEAST
47%
SOUTHWEST GULF
43%
MID-ATLANTIC
49%
NORTHEAST
46%
EXPERIENCED STORM
44%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
49%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 18 (TRUE  DISCOUNTS)
OVERALL
69%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
74%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
67%
MEN
72%
WOMEN
65%
SOUTHEAST
71%
SOUTHWEST GULF
65%
MID-ATLANTIC
75%
NORTHEAST
66%
EXPERIENCED STORM
69%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
68%
21

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 19 (FALSE  CANDLES)
OVERALL
44%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
46%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
43%
MEN
40%
WOMEN
48%
SOUTHEAST
41%
SOUTHWEST GULF
43%
MID-ATLANTIC
45%
NORTHEAST
47%
EXPERIENCED STORM
43%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
46%

CORRECT RESPONSES: TEST QUESTION 20 (FALSE  OPEN WINDOW)
OVERALL
62%
LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES OF OCEAN
60%
LIVE >10 MILES FROM OCEAN
63%
MEN
62%
WOMEN
62%
SOUTHEAST
58%
SOUTHWEST GULF
59%
MID-ATLANTIC
67%
NORTHEAST
67%
EXPERIENCED STORM
61%
NOT EXPERIENCED STORM
66%
22