HURRICANE KATRINA REPEAT … IN LONG ISLAND?
Fear of Hurricanes is Widespread, Even in Non-Threatened Areas
April 26, 2006

Orlando, Fla. — A significant hurricane hasn’t struck Long Island since 1960, yet nearly 60 percent of residents believe their city will be ravaged by a Katrina-like storm. In New Orleans, the fear is even more prevalent — nearly three-fourths of residents think the Big Easy will be hit by another disastrous hurricane in the coming years.

This research, conducted by Orlando-based The Kitchens Group, indicates that Americans are entering this year’s hurricane season fearing another severe storm, regardless of past regional weather activity — an indication that recent weather-related disasters have taken a toll on the American psyche. Surveying residents of Long Island and New Orleans, the poll asked respondents about the possibility of a Katrina-like hurricane causing massive damage within the next five to 10 years in their region of the country. Results indicated:

“These poll responses indicate that no matter where they live &Mdash; hurricane-prone regions or other coastal areas &Mdash; people fear a Katrina-like disaster will hit them,” explained researcher and attitude-specialist Jim Kitchens. “Fear is a dominant component of the collective American psyche. It drives actions and will impact how people respond to hurricanes this year."

Contact: Heather Biddulph 407-657-4818

Jim Kitchens, founder of The Kitchens Group, is a mass-persuasion expert and attitude specialist with a PhD in political communication. He has consulted for more than 40 members of Congress, including some of our most influential leaders; worked on environmental issue elections, resulting in more than one billion dollars for land conservation; and interviewed more than one million Americans, developing expertise in attitudes toward campaign strategy, the environment, legalized gambling, corporate issues and tort reform.