Sims, Robert T.

English

University of New Orleans

University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO Survey Research Center Publications Survey Research Center (UNO Poll) 4-2009 2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation Preparedness Supplement Robert T. Sims University of New Orleans Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/src_pubs  Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Sims, Robert T., "2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation Preparedness Supplement" (2009). Survey Research Center Publications. Paper 2. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/src_pubs/2 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Survey Research Center (UNO Poll) at ScholarWorks@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Survey Research Center Publications by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uno.edu. 2009 Quality of Life StudyHURRICANE EVACUATION AND PREPAREDNESS SUPPLEMENT CONDUCTED BY THE UNO SURVEY RESEARCH CENTERRobert T. Sims, Ph.D. - Directorrsims@uno.eduApril 2009Methodology• Results are based on a telephone survey of 573 registered voters in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes who have lived in Southeast Louisiana for at least 10 years.  – The original sample did not restrict participants to any particular time or residence in the area.  However, in order to simplify analysis, only data from 10+ year residents are included, since these residents comprised over 95% of the total sample..– The sample was drawn from official listings of registered voters.  These listings include telephone numbers as reported by the voter.  Accordingly, the include cell phone numbers when applicable.– Interviewing took place during the final week of March 2009.• Margins of Error:•– Full Sample   +/- 4.1%– Within Parish Results  +/- 5.9%– White Respondents  +/- 5.2%– African-American Respondents  +/- 7.0% 3Orleans and Jefferson Parishes 4Number of Times Evacuated-Past 10 Years•Nearly half of area residents report having evacuated 2 or 3 times over the past 10 years.0 1 2-3 4-5 More than 50%10%20%30%40%50%60%5%12%47%22%12%  5Hurricane Evacuations-Past 10 Years•The rate of evacuation for Gustav was second only to that of Katrina.Katrina Gustav Rita Georges0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%90%79%47%28%  6Gustav EvacuationBY PARISH AND RACEOrleansJefferson50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%82%77%By ParishWhiteAfrican-American50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%75%85%By Race•Orleans Parish residents and African-Americans were somewhat more likely than others to evacuate for Hurricane Gustav. 7Gustav EvacuationBY INCOME AND EDUCATIONLess than $10K$10K - $19.9K$20K - $39.9K$40K - $59.9K$60K - $79.9K$80K - $99.9K$100K +50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%88%73%73%72%86%91%89%By IncomeLess than 9th gradeGrades 9-11High school graduateSome college/ TradeCollege graduatePost-graduate50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%65%66%76%83%81%85%By Education•Lower middle income and lesser educated residents were least likely to evacuate. 8Gustav EvacuationBY AGE•Residents between the ages of 26 and 45 were most likely to evacuate.18 to 25 26 to 35 36 to 45 46 to 55 56 to 65 Over 6550%60%70%80%90%100%75%100%90%80%76% 77%  9Will You Evacuate If Public Officials Advise It?•Over half of residents indicate that they would definitely evacuate if public officials recommended that they do so.54%27%10%3%5%Defnitely willProbably willProbably will notDefinitely will notDK 10Will You Evacuate If Public Officials Advise It?BY PARISH AND RACEOrleansJefferson0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%61%49%22%31%By ParishDefinitely ProbablyWhiteAfrican-American0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%39%73%36%15%By RaceDefinitely Probably•Judging by the percentage of residents who “definitely will” evacuate, Orleans residents are somewhat more, and African-Americans are substantially more, likely to follow government evacuation recommendations. 11Why Won't You Evacuate?n=106•The main reasons residents give for not following the evacuation recommendations of public officials is the belief that they are safe at home or that they can make their own decisions based on the specifics of the storm.  Well prepared for storm/ Have not had problems in pastDepends on intesity or path of stormMake my own decision based on weather/ experienceTired of evacuation/ Too difficultDo not trust public officialsMust stay for jobWon't leave regardless of consequencesCan't afford it0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%21%20%15%14%10%7%6%5%  12Confidence in Public OfficialsTo Respond Effectively•Most residents are at least somewhat confident of the ability of public officials to respond effectively to the threat of a hurricane23%47%18%9%3%Very confidentSomewhat con-fidentNot very confidentNot at all con-fidentDK 13Confidence in Public OfficialsTo Respond EffectivelyBY PARISH AND RACEOrleansJefferson0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%18%27%43%50%By ParishVery conf ident Somew hat con-f identWhiteAfrican-American0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%17%30%55%39%By RaceVery conf ident Somew hat con-f ident•Jefferson Parish residents are clearly more confident in the ability of their public officials to respond effectively to a hurricane threat than their Orleans Parish counterparts. 14Evacuation LikelihoodBy Confidence in Officials•Likelihood of evacuation is impacted by confidence in public officials, though not strongly.ConfidentNot Confident0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%57%45%Percent "Very likely" to evacuate  15Residents with Evacuation PlansBY PARISH AND RACEOrleansJefferson50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%69%72%By ParishWhiteAfrican-American50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%70%73%By Race•The 71% of residents who report having definite plans for evacuation this coming hurricane season does not vary substantially by Parish or race. 16Residents with Evacuation PlansBY INCOME AND EDUCATIONLess than $10K$10K - $19.9K$20K - $39.9K$40K - $59.9K$60K - $79.9K$80K - $99.9K$100K +0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%45%59%71%73%88%70%75%By IncomeLess than 9th gradeGrades 9-11High school graduateSome college/ TradeCollege graduatePost-graduate0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%39%57%72%71%75%76%By Education•Evacuation planning varies predictably with income education.  Additional analysis also discloses that the youngest residents are the least likely to plan.

2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation Preparedness Supplement

ScholarWorks @ The University of New Orleans

University of New Orleans 
ScholarWorks@UNO 
Survey Research Center Publications Survey Research Center (UNO Poll) 
4-2009 
2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation 
Preparedness Supplement 
Robert T. Sims 
University of New Orleans 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/src_pubs 
 Part of the Political Science Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Sims, Robert T., "2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation Preparedness Supplement" (2009). 
Survey Research Center Publications. Paper 2. 
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/src_pubs/2 
This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Survey Research Center (UNO Poll) at 
ScholarWorks@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Survey Research Center Publications by an authorized 
administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uno.edu. 
2009 Quality of Life Study
HURRICANE EVACUATION AND PREPAREDNESS 
SUPPLEMENT
 
CONDUCTED BY THE 
UNO SURVEY RESEARCH CENTER
Robert T. Sims, Ph.D. - Director
rsims@uno.edu
April 2009
Methodology
• Results are based on a telephone survey of 573 registered voters in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes who have 
lived in Southeast Louisiana for at least 10 years.  
– The original sample did not restrict participants to any particular time or residence in the area.  However, in 
order to simplify analysis, only data from 10+ year residents are included, since these residents comprised 
over 95% of the total sample..
– The sample was drawn from official listings of registered voters.  These listings include telephone numbers 
as reported by the voter.  Accordingly, the include cell phone numbers when applicable.
– Interviewing took place during the final week of March 2009.
• Margins of Error:
•
– Full Sample   +/- 4.1%
– Within Parish Results  +/- 5.9%
– White Respondents  +/- 5.2%
– African-American Respondents  +/- 7.0%
 3
Orleans and Jefferson Parishes
 4
Number of Times Evacuated-
Past 10 Years
•Nearly half of area residents report having evacuated 2 or 3 
times over the past 10 years.
0 1 2-3 4-5 More than 5
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
5%
12%
47%
22%
12%
 
 5
Hurricane Evacuations-
Past 10 Years
•The rate of evacuation for Gustav was second only to that of 
Katrina.
Katrina Gustav Rita Georges
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
90%
79%
47%
28%
 
 6
Gustav Evacuation
BY PARISH AND RACE
Orleans
Jefferson
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
82%
77%
By Parish
White
African-American
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
75%
85%
By Race
•Orleans Parish residents and African-Americans were 
somewhat more likely than others to evacuate for Hurricane 
Gustav.
 7
Gustav Evacuation
BY INCOME AND EDUCATION
Less than $10K
$10K - $19.9K
$20K - $39.9K
$40K - $59.9K
$60K - $79.9K
$80K - $99.9K
$100K +
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
88%
73%
73%
72%
86%
91%
89%
By Income
Less than 9th grade
Grades 9-11
High school graduate
Some college/ Trade
College graduate
Post-graduate
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
65%
66%
76%
83%
81%
85%
By Education
•Lower middle income and lesser educated residents were 
least likely to evacuate.
 8
Gustav Evacuation
BY AGE
•Residents between the ages of 26 and 45 were most likely to 
evacuate.
18 to 25 26 to 35 36 to 45 46 to 55 56 to 65 Over 65
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
75%
100%
90%
80%
76% 77%
 
 9
Will You Evacuate If Public 
Officials Advise It?
•Over half of residents indicate that they would definitely 
evacuate if public officials recommended that they do so.
54%
27%
10%
3%
5%
Defnitely will
Probably will
Probably will not
Definitely will not
DK
 10
Will You Evacuate If Public 
Officials Advise It?
BY PARISH AND RACE
Orleans
Jefferson
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
61%
49%
22%
31%
By Parish
Definitely Probably
White
African-American
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
39%
73%
36%
15%
By Race
Definitely Probably
•Judging by the percentage of residents who “definitely will” 
evacuate, Orleans residents are somewhat more, and 
African-Americans are substantially more, likely to follow 
government evacuation recommendations.
 11
Why Won't You Evacuate?
n=106
•The main reasons residents give for not following the evacuation 
recommendations of public officials is the belief that they are safe 
at home or that they can make their own decisions based on the 
specifics of the storm.  
Well prepared for storm/ Have not had problems in past
Depends on intesity or path of storm
Make my own decision based on weather/ experience
Tired of evacuation/ Too difficult
Do not trust public officials
Must stay for job
Won't leave regardless of consequences
Can't afford it
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
21%
20%
15%
14%
10%
7%
6%
5%
 
 12
Confidence in Public Officials
To Respond Effectively
•Most residents are at least somewhat confident of the ability 
of public officials to respond effectively to the threat of a 
hurricane
23%
47%
18%
9%
3%
Very confident
Somewhat con-
fident
Not very confident
Not at all con-
fident
DK
 13
Confidence in Public Officials
To Respond Effectively
BY PARISH AND RACE
Orleans
Jefferson
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
18%
27%
43%
50%
By Parish
Very conf ident Somew hat con-
f ident
White
African-American
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
17%
30%
55%
39%
By Race
Very conf ident Somew hat con-
f ident
•Jefferson Parish residents are clearly more confident in the 
ability of their public officials to respond effectively to a 
hurricane threat than their Orleans Parish counterparts.
 14
Evacuation Likelihood
By Confidence in Officials
•Likelihood of evacuation is impacted by confidence in public 
officials, though not strongly.
Confident
Not Confident
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
57%
45%
Percent "Very likely" to evacuate
 
 15
Residents with Evacuation Plans
BY PARISH AND RACE
Orleans
Jefferson
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
69%
72%
By Parish
White
African-American
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
70%
73%
By Race
•The 71% of residents who report having definite plans for 
evacuation this coming hurricane season does not vary 
substantially by Parish or race.
 16
Residents with Evacuation Plans
BY INCOME AND EDUCATION
Less than $10K
$10K - $19.9K
$20K - $39.9K
$40K - $59.9K
$60K - $79.9K
$80K - $99.9K
$100K +
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
45%
59%
71%
73%
88%
70%
75%
By Income
Less than 9th grade
Grades 9-11
High school graduate
Some college/ Trade
College graduate
Post-graduate
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
39%
57%
72%
71%
75%
76%
By Education
•Evacuation planning varies predictably with income 
education.  Additional analysis also discloses that the 
youngest residents are the least likely to plan.


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2009 Quality of Life Study - Hurricane and Evacuation Preparedness Supplement

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