Emergency Officials Launch Educational Initiative to Arm
Hurricane-Vulnerable Residents With Life-Saving Information
MIAMI, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the past two historic and
devastating hurricane seasons, a new regional survey reveals a dangerously
high percentage of residents in hurricane-vulnerable states still aren't
prepared, don't take the threat of hurricanes seriously, and have big gaps
in what they know about hurricanes -- even those who live within 30 miles
of the coast.
Among the key findings that concerned emergency managers:
Of those surveyed:
* 56% don't feel vulnerable to a hurricane or related tornado or flooding,
* 60% have no family disaster plan,
* 68% have no hurricane survival kit,
* 83% have taken no steps to make their homes stronger,
* And 13% said they might not or would not evacuate even if ordered to
leave -- leaving tens of thousands of residents at grave risk.
"Katrina was quite a national wake-up call, yet it seems too many
residents are still asleep," said Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center
Director. "We're facing another active and potentially deadly season in
just a few weeks. It's vital that residents of hurricane-vulnerable states
take the threat seriously and get prepared."
That's why Mayfield and partners, the National Emergency Management
Association, the Salvation Army and the State Emergency Response Team
(SERT) of Florida, today announced the launch of the National Hurricane
Survival Initiative. The initiative, funded by title sponsor, Plylox, with
additional support from Progress Energy, Travelers insurance and BellSouth,
aims to educate residents in hurricane-vulnerable states about the risks
and steps they can take to protect themselves.
In addition to an informative Web site, http://www.hurricanesafety.org
, residents can tune into two educational television programs -- "Hurricane
2006!" and "The National Hurricane Survival Test" -- which will be
broadcast in more than 40 markets on network affiliate and cable stations.
Overall, Florida residents, who have weathered the most storms by far,
and residents of Southern states were more prepared and knew more about
hurricanes than those in more Northern states. But coastal residents, who
live within 30 miles of the coast, were no more prepared nor did they fare
better on a quiz of hurricane facts than those who live further inland.
For this release in its entirety, please visit:
http://www.hurricanesafety.org/newsreleases.shtml
SOURCE National Hurricane Survival Initiative
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Related links:
http://www.hurricanesafety.org
http://www.hurricanesafety.org/newsreleases.shtml
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/683203.html /
CONTACT:
Dana Smith or LaTonya Starks,
+1-800-875-4301, both for National Hurricane Survival Initiative
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