1-in-4 Floridians say they won’t evacuate during hurricane, poll finds
With the hurricane season now underway, the American Automobile Association (AAA) is warning that many residents living in potential hurricane impact zones are not adequately prepared for a disaster. A survey conducted by the AAA found that only around half of residents in Georgia and North Carolina take advanced preparations for tropical cyclones or severe weather. However, the results from Florida and South Carolina were more promising, with over three-quarters of residents taking steps to prepare. The survey also found that more than half of participants would ignore warnings to evacuate their homes in the event of a hurricane, and around 24% of Floridians would ignore warnings regardless of how severe the storm was. A public relations manager for the AAA, Mark Jenkins, stressed the importance of having an evacuation plan before disaster strikes.
In recent years, emergency managers have emphasized the importance of residents knowing their evacuation zone. However, not all residents know when it is time to leave, despite public service announcements and easy-to-use online maps. The last time parts of the Southeast faced major evacuation orders was during Hurricane Ian in 2022. The tropical cyclone season runs through November 30, and due to an impending El Niño, tropical weather experts warn there are more uncertainties than average with seasonal predictions. The Colorado State University released an updated outlook on the season, calling for as many as 15 named storms and 17 hurricanes with wind speeds of at least 74 mph.
FAQs:
Q: What is the AAA?
A: The American Automobile Association is a federation of motor clubs across North America.
Q: What did the AAA survey find?
A: The survey found that around half of residents in Georgia and North Carolina take advanced preparations for tropical cyclones or severe weather, whereas over three-quarters take steps to prepare in Florida and South Carolina.
Q: Would more than half of participants ignore evacuation warnings in the event of a hurricane?
A: Yes, according to the AAA survey, more than half of the participants said they would ignore warnings to evacuate in the event of a hurricane.
Q: What reasons were cited for ignoring evacuation orders?
A: Reasons cited for ignoring evacuation orders included concerns over pet shelters, errors in the forecast track, not knowing where to go, fear of looting after the storm, and finances.
Q: When does the hurricane season end?
A: The tropical cyclone season runs through November 30.
Q: What is the Colorado State University outlook for the season?
A: The university called for as many as 15 named storms and 17 hurricanes with wind speeds of at least 74 mph.
Poll finds 25% of Floridians unwilling to evacuate during hurricane
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is alerting residents in hurricane-prone areas about the dangers of not being prepared for disasters as the Atlantic hurricane season begins. According to a recent AAA survey, only half of the polled residents in Georgia and North Carolina make advanced preparations for tropical cyclones or severe weather. The situation in Florida and South Carolina is more encouraging, with more than three-fourths of the population taking preparedness steps before a storm. However, the association is worried about participants who said they would disregard evacuation warnings in the event of a hurricane. Over half of those polled said they would only leave their homes if an approaching hurricane was a Category 3 or stronger, while 24% of Floridians suggested they would ignore warnings to leave altogether, irrespective of the hurricane’s intensity. Last year, coastal residents cited gas prices and pandemic concerns for not leaving, while this year, Floridians said wanting to stay close to their property was a priority. Emergency managers have stressed the importance of residents knowing their evacuation zone, but even with public service announcements, easy-to-use online maps and other outreach campaigns, not all who live in a threat zone know when they should leave. As for the 2022 season, the first two days marked the formation and strengthening of Tropical Depression Two into Tropical Storm Arlene. While it formed well off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico and did not trigger any evacuations in the US, the tropical cyclone season runs through Nov. 30, and experts warn of uncertainties with seasonal predictions due to an impending El Niño. Colorado State University released an updated outlook that called for as many as 15 named storms, 17 of which could become hurricanes with winds of at least 74 mph.