Preparedness for A Major Hurricane or Other Emergency

Publication Date: October 2008

Publisher: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Author(s):

Research Area: Environment; Social conditions

Keywords: survey; government; hurricane

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

As part of the September Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008, the Foundation asked the public what their view was of the recent evacuation process when Hurricane Gustav hit the Louisiana coast on September 1. New Orleans residents and the government bodies that aided them in their evacuation receive high marks for that effort from the American public.

Asked to compare what they saw with the response to Hurricane Katrina, two thirds of Americans say that the federal government seems more prepared to handle a major hurricane now than it did in 2005. In addition, more than seven in ten say Louisiana’s state government and New Orleans’ city government and its residents also seem better prepared.