Roughly one-quarter of Florida residents would ignore warnings to evacuate during a hurricane, according to a new survey by AAA.
In addition, AAA announced that around 23% of Florida respondents said they don’t make advanced preparations for hurricane season or severe weather.
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Of those who said they would evacuate during a hurricane, nearly two-thirds said they wouldn’t leave their homes unless the hurricane was Category 3 or stronger.
According to a release by AAA, the following were the top reasons cited by Florida residents for ignoring evacuation warnings:
- 33% — Want to stay in case there’s damage to their home or property that they can fix
- 29% — Believe the storm will turn away from their direction
- 24% — Don’t know where to go
- 23% — Financial reasons (e.g., can’t afford a hotel)
- 20% — Can’t bring their pets/Don’t have a safe option for pets
- 19% — Fear of looting after the storm
This year, NOAA is predicting 17-25 named storms during Florida’s hurricane season. Up to seven of those are estimated to become major hurricanes, reaching Category 3 or greater.
This is NOAA’s highest-ever May forecast in terms of number of storms — and a good reason for Florida residents to start preparing.
“Staying in the path of a potentially deadly storm is just not worth the risk,” said Mark Jenkins, Public Relations Manager for AAA’s The Auto Club Group. “Take steps now to develop an evacuation plan for your family and pets. If you’re worried about property damage, contact your insurance advisor. Having adequate coverage will give you the peace-of-mind in knowing that anything damaged while you’re gone can be repaired or replaced.”
AAA offers the following suggestions for Florida residents to prepare for hurricane season:
- REVIEW INSURANCE COVERAGE: Go over your homeowner’s insurance with a licensed agent to figure out whether you have adequate protection. Discuss deductibles and ensure that recent home upgrades — including pools, screens and fences — are covered.
- STORE INSURANCE AND FLOOD POLICY NUMBERS: Use your phone to document your insurance provider’s phone number for filing a claim.
- UNDERSTAND HOW TO FILE A CLAIM: Find out whether your provider lets you file a claim on a website or mobile app. Doing so can help speed up the filing process; otherwise, high demand could end up making wait times over the phone even longer.
- TAKE INVENTORY: Document your belongings by walking through your home with a video camera or smartphone. Keep a record of large purchases by using receipts, documenting the cost, purchase date, model, and serial number.
- STORE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS: Keep your vital records in a portable waterproof container. Documents can include birth certificates, social security cards, insurance policy records, and more.
For more on the 2024 hurricane season, visit ClickOrlando’s hurricane page by clicking here.
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