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October 10, 2024 1312 replies
milton169.jpg
Hurricane Milton bears down on Tampa Bay area, 5.21am est, Oct 9. Image: NOAA
Q1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinates the federal government's response to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, and provides disaster relief funds to victims.

FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund has been allocated roughly $20b per year for the past several years. However, this year it may need more in the wake of two large hurricanes, Helene and Milton, making landfall on the west coast of Florida in the past two weeks.

Residents of high risk areas may already pay higher private insurance premiums due to increased likelihood of claims, but do you think residents in areas prone to natural disasters and terrorist attacks should pay a tax to help cover possible FEMA outlays?
(check all that apply)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+

Hurricanes in FL, yes

35%
33%
36%
24%
35%
46%
34%
23%
39%
42%

No

57%
57%
56%
69%
55%
47%
55%
69%
54%
51%

Earthquakes in CA, yes

30%
30%
32%
24%
34%
36%
28%
20%
35%
38%

No

59%
61%
56%
66%
53%
54%
61%
71%
53%
52%

Floods in Upper Midwest, yes

26%
25%
28%
16%
25%
36%
34%
19%
27%
28%

No

62%
64%
59%
72%
61%
53%
55%
72%
59%
61%

Tornados in Lower Great Plains, yes

27%
26%
28%
17%
27%
37%
34%
17%
30%
28%

No

62%
63%
60%
72%
60%
52%
55%
71%
57%
59%

Terrorist attacks in NYC, DC yes

14%
11%
17%
20%
11%
9%
10%
13%
15%
18%

No

73%
76%
70%
68%
77%
76%
75%
77%
70%
71%

Don't know

7%
7%
6%
6%
6%
7%
8%
9%
6%
4%

Don't care

0%
1%
0%
0%
1%
0%
1%
0%
0%
Q2. Helene was the strongest storm to ever hit the Big Bend region of FL, and the deadliest US hurricane since Katrina in 2005. It made landfall in FL on Sept 26, and continued across the southeastern US, causing an estimated $38bb in damage, leaving more than 200 dead, and more than 600 missing.

Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have said FEMA blocked relief efforts by shutting down airspace, confiscating relief packages sent by civilians, and squandered much of its budget "ferrying migrants." Local officials, including Republican Senator Thom Tillis (R, NC) and Rep Chuck Edwards (R, NC), have said each of these allegations is untrue.

Who do you think is telling the truth, Trump and Vance, or the local Republicans, and how would you rate FEMA's response to Helene overall?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Group A

Confident Trump/Vance telling truth

27%
30%
25%
56%
19%
0%
12%
25%
34%
30%

Think Trump/Vance

10%
13%
8%
20%
11%
1%
2%
11%
14%
9%

Not sure

10%
15%
4%
16%
9%
4%
16%
13%
7%
6%

Think local officials

7%
4%
11%
3%
14%
11%
13%
6%
6%
8%

Confident local officials

45%
37%
52%
5%
48%
84%
56%
45%
39%
47%
Group B

FEMA has had good response

44%
33%
56%
3%
41%
86%
37%
44%
41%
55%

Poor response

46%
56%
36%
91%
38%
3%
30%
47%
54%
41%

Not sure

10%
10%
9%
6%
20%
11%
33%
9%
5%
5%

Don't care

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
1%
0%
Q3. Milton made landfall on Oct 9, just south of Tampa Bay. Prior to its arrival, forecasters said the storm surge could be as high as 12 ft, but because the storm veered just south of the Bay, the surge was half that. However, there was 115 mph wind, and St Petersburg experienced a 'once in 1,000 year' rainfall event, getting 5 inches in an hour.

Prior to the storm's arrival, given the possibility of the extreme surge, parts of the Tampa Bay area were under mandatory evacuation orders.

Do you think the government should be able to impose fines or other punishment on those that did not evacuate?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+

Yes, they put first responder lives at risk

22%
21%
23%
15%
26%
28%
26%
14%
22%
31%

Yes, but only moderate fines

13%
13%
12%
13%
9%
13%
9%
15%
11%
16%

No

57%
57%
57%
68%
55%
49%
54%
63%
61%
50%

Don't know

7%
6%
7%
4%
10%
8%
11%
8%
5%
3%

Don't care

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

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