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    Disaster Preparedness and Relief  (p. 3)

 

Polls listed chronologically. All data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 8-11, 2005. N=1,201 adults nationwide, including, with an oversample, 271 blacks. MoE ± 3 for all respondents, ± 6 for black respondents.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation caused by Hurricane Katrina?"

.
Approve Disap-
prove		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 44 54 2
9/2/05 46 47 8

.

"How would you rate the federal government's overall response to the situation caused by Hurricane Katrina: excellent, good, not so good or poor?"
9/2/05 wording: "How would you rate the federal government's overall response to the situation caused by the hurricane and flooding: excellent, good, not so good or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Not So
Good		 Poor Unsure
% % % % %

9/8-11/05

 5 32 28 34 -
9/2/05 11 37 23 28 1

.

"Thinking about how the federal government has handled specific issues -- How would you rate the federal government's performance on [see below]: excellent, good, not so good or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Not So
Good		 Poor Unsure
% % % % %

.

"Delivering food, water and medical help"

.

  9/8-11/05

 10 37 24 28 1
  9/2/05 10 33 27 29 1

.

"Recovering and identifying those who lost their lives"

.

  9/8-11/05

 5 35 29 24 7

.

"Dealing with the oil supply and rising gasoline prices"

.

  9/8-11/05

 3 18 35 43 1
  9/2/05 3 16 29 50 2

.

"Evacuating and resettling people who've lost their homes"

.

  9/8-11/05

 10 39 24 26 2
  9/2/05 8 30 30 29 3

.

"Clearing and repairing the hurricane and flood damage"

.

  9/8-11/05

 6 38 28 22 5

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration does or does not have a clear plan for dealing with the hurricane situation?"

.
Does Does Not Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 33 63 3
9/2/05 40 55 5

.

"How much blame, if any, do you think Bush should get for problems in the federal response to the situation: a great deal, a good amount, only some or none?"

.
A Great
Deal		 A Good
Amount		 Only Some None Unsure
% % % % %

9/8-11/05

 24 21 37 17 -
9/2/05 23 20 33 22 1

.

"Do you think the situation shows serious problems in the federal government's emergency preparedness overall, or do you think this was a special case?"

.
Serious
Problems		 Special
Case		 No Problems
(vol.)		 Unsure
% % % %

9/8-11/05

 50 47 2 1
9/2/05 44 54 1 1

.

"How would you rate the overall response of state and local governments to the situation caused by Hurricane Katrina: excellent, good, not so good or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Not So
Good		 Poor Unsure
% % % % %

9/8-11/05

 8 29 32 29 2

.

"How much blame, if any, do you think state and local officials should get for problems in the response to the situation: a great deal, a good amount, only some or none?"

.
A Great
Deal		 A Good
Amount		 Only Some None
% % % %

9/8-11/05

 30 27 34 8

.

"Please tell me if each of the following does or does not describe your own personal feelings about the federal government's response to the hurricane situation. . . . "

.
Does Does Not Unsure    
% % %    

"Angry"
  9/8-11/05 45 55 -
  9/2/05 45 54 -

.
"Hopeful" 
  9/8-11/05 64 35 1
  9/2/05 64 34 1

.

"What do you think was a bigger problem -- that some people could have evacuated before the hurricane hit, but failed to take the warnings seriously; or that some people wanted to evacuate before the hurricane hit but didn't have transportation, and the government didn't provide it?" Options rotated

.
Didn't Take
Seriously		 No Trans-
portation		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 49 48 3

.

"Overall, do you think most of the criticism of the federal government's response to the hurricane has been fair, or unfair?"

.
Fair Unfair Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 56 43 1

.

"Do you think the Bush Administration is willing to take responsibility for problems in the hurricane response, or is trying to avoid responsibility for those problems?" Options rotated

.
Willing To
Take Res-
ponsibility		 Trying To
Avoid Res-
ponsibility		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 48 49 3

.

"Do you think Democrats who criticize the way the Bush Administration has handled the hurricane response mainly want to find out what went wrong, or mainly want to use the issue for political advantage?" Options rotated

.
Find Out
What Went
Wrong		 Use For
Political
Advantage		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 36 60 4

.

"The Republican leaders of Congress have called for a full-scale congressional investigation of the government's hurricane preparedness and response effort. Apart from this investigation, would you support or oppose an investigation by an independent commission like the one that investigated the 9/11 attacks?"

.
Support Oppose Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 76 23 2

.

"Just your best guess, do you think the congressional investigation will stay focused on the facts, or get bogged down in partisan politics?" Options rotated

.
Stay
Focused		 Bogged
Down		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 26 71 2

.

"The hurricane relief effort may cost well over 100 billion dollars. How do you think the government should pay for this -- by cutting spending on other programs, increasing the federal budget deficit, raising taxes, or what?" Options rotated

.
  %
Cutting other spending 39
Increasing federal deficit 17
Raising taxes 16
Something else 17
Pull out of Iraq (vol.) 4
Unsure 8

.

"Some federal lawmakers have proposed 70 billion dollars in tax cuts over the next five years. Do you think those tax cuts should go forward as proposed, or do you think they should be put off for the time being?" Options rotated

.
Go
Forward		 Put Off Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 36 59 5

.

"Have you personally made a charitable contribution for hurricane relief, are you considering doing so, or is that not something you are considering at this time?"

.
Have
Contributed		 Considering Not
Considering
% % %

9/8-11/05

 60 28 11

.

"As you may know, New Orleans was a poor city with a large African-American population. Do you think it would have received better flood protection and emergency preparedness resources if it had been a wealthier city with more whites, or do you think race and poverty did not affect its hurricane protection and emergency planning?"

.
Would Have
Been Better
Prepared		 Did Not
Affect		 Unsure
% % %

ALL

 36 60 4

  Whites

 28 69 3

  Blacks

 71 27 2

.

"Do you think the federal government would have responded more quickly to rescue people trapped by floodwaters if more of them had been wealthier and white rather than poorer and black, or do you think race and poverty did not affect the speed of the rescue effort?"

.
Would Have
Responded
Faster		 Did Not
Affect		 Unsure
% % %

ALL

 33 64 3

  Whites

 24 73 3

  Blacks

 76 21 3

.

"Overall, do you think problems with the hurricane relief effort are or are not an indication of racial inequality in this country?"

.
Are Are Not Unsure
% % %

ALL

 31 67 2

  Whites

 25 73 2

  Blacks

 63 36 1

.

"Overall, do you think Bush personally cares or does not care about the problems facing black people in this country?"

.
Cares Does Not
Care		 Doesn't
Care About
Anyone (vol.)		 Unsure
% % % %

ALL

 59 34 4 4

  Whites

 65 28

  Blacks

 26 68

.

"How confident are you that the federal government has put in place adequate controls to avoid waste and fraud in the use of federal money in the hurricane relief effort? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident or not confident at all?"

.
Very
Confident		 Somewhat
Confident		 Not So
Confident		 Not At All
Confident		 Unsure
% % % % %

9/8-11/05

 7 37 30 24 2

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sept. 8-11, 2005. Nationwide.

.

"How closely have you been following the news about Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding in the city of New Orleans: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3

.
Very
Closely		 Somewhat
Closely		 Not Too
Closely		 Not At All
% % % %

9/8-11/05

 58 38 3 1

.

"Now thinking about what happened immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit and NOT what has happened in the past few days, how would you rate the way [see below] initially responded to the hurricane -- as very good, good, poor, or very poor?" Form A (N=533, MoE ± 5)

.
Very
Good		 Good Poor Very
Poor		 Unsure
% % % % %

.

"George W. Bush"

.

9/8-11/05

 12 32 26 29 1

.

"FEMA and other federal government agencies responsible for handling emergencies"

.

9/8-11/05

 8 28 32 31 1

.

"State and local officials in Louisiana"

.

9/8-11/05

 6 32 34 25 3

.

"The residents of New Orleans"

.

9/8-11/05

 9 30 38 19 4

.

"Now thinking about what has happened in the past few days in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and NOT what happened immediately after it hit, how would you rate the way [see below] has responded to the hurricane in the past few days -- as very good, good, poor, or very poor?" Form B (N=472, MoE ± 5)

.
Very
Good		 Good Poor Very
Poor		 Unsure
% % % % %

.

"George W. Bush"

.

9/8-11/05

 16 42 23 17 2

.

"FEMA and other federal government agencies responsible for handling emergencies"

.

9/8-11/05

 12 44 25 17 2

.

"State and local officials in Louisiana"

.

9/8-11/05

 13 44 26 13 4

.

"The residents of New Orleans"

.

9/8-11/05

 13 46 25 12 4

.

"Which comes closer to your view about the government agencies in New Orleans responsible for dealing with natural disasters? They should have been better prepared to deal with the hurricane. OR, There was no way for them to adequately prepare for a hurricane that strong." Options rotated. N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Better
Prepared		 No Way To
Adequately
Prepare		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 71 28 1

.

"Who do you think deserves the most blame for the fact that many New Orleans residents were trapped in the city after it flooded: the mayor of New Orleans, the residents themselves, or the Bush Administration -- or does no one deserve any blame?" Options rotated. N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Mayor of
New Orleans		 Residents
Themselves		 Bush Admin-
istration		 No One Other (vol.)/
Unsure
% % % % %

9/8-11/05

 27 25 19 25 4

.

"In your view, which was the greater obstacle to the federal government's response to the hurricane: neglecting domestic needs like emergency preparedness and infrastructure in the past, or bureaucratic inefficiency?" Options rotated. N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Neglect Inefficiency Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 40 49 11

.

"Now thinking about the looters in New Orleans who entered stores and took things in the first few days after the hurricane, which comes closer to your view? They were mostly criminals taking advantage of the situation. OR, They were mostly desperate people trying to find a way to survive." Options rotated. N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Criminals Desperate
People		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 46 48 6

.

"Do you think [see below] are currently spending too much time, the right amount of time, or too little time trying to figure out who is responsible for the problems in the areas affected by the hurricane?" Options rotated. N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Too Much Right
Amount		 Too Little Unsure  
% % % %  

.

"The news media"

.

9/8-11/05

 49 43 7 1  

.

"The Democratic leaders in Congress"

.

9/8-11/05

 48 23 23 6  

.

"The Republican leaders in Congress"

.

9/8-11/05

 39 24 31 6  

.

"Thinking again about the residents of New Orleans who were trapped in the city after it flooded: Just your best guess, do you think one reason the federal government was slow in rescuing these people was because many of them were poor, or was that not a reason?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Was a
Reason		 Was Not a
Reason		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 27 71 2

.

"Just your best guess, do you think one reason the federal government was slow in rescuing these people was because many of them were black, or was that not a reason?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Was a
Reason		 Was Not a
Reason		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 18 80 2

.

"Now thinking about the residents of New Orleans and other cities who were evacuated because of the hurricane, does it bother you, personally, when you hear people refer to them as 'refugees,' or not?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Does Does Not Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 42 57 1

.

"Overall, do you feel the news media have acted responsibly or irresponsibly in its coverage of Hurricane Katrina?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Responsibly Irres-
ponsibly		 Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 77 20 3

.

"Now, thinking ahead, do you think there should or should not be an investigation by an independent panel into the problems with the government's response to the hurricane?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Should Should Not Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 70 29 1

.

"Do you think the effects of Hurricane Katrina will or will not hurt your family's financial situation over the next 12 months?" N=1,005 adults, MoE ± 3.

.
Will Will Not Unsure
% % %

9/8-11/05

 80 19 1

.

"How much confidence do you have in the federal government's ability to respond to future natural disasters: a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or none at all?" Form A (N=533, MoE ± 5)

.
A Great
Deal		 A Moderate
Amount		 Not Much None
At All
% % % %

9/8-11/05

 22 38 28 12

 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 8-11, 2005. N=1,523 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In general, how would you rate the job the press has done in covering the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast . . . ?"

.
Excellent/
Good		 Only Fair/
Poor		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/8-11/05 63 36 1    
9/6-7/05 65 33 2    

.

"How would you rate the job state and local governments in Louisiana and Mississippi have been doing responding to Hurricane Katrina . . . ?"

.
Excellent/
Good		 Only Fair/
Poor		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/8-11/05 34 60 6    
9/6-7/05 41 51 8    

.

"How would you rate the job the federal government has been doing responding to Hurricane Katrina . . . ?"

.
Excellent/
Good		 Only Fair/
Poor		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/8-11/05 37 61 2    
9/6-7/05 38 58 4    

.

"Do you think the federal government should help to pay for rebuilding New Orleans, or is it too risky to rebuild the city in its present location?"

.
Should
Help Pay		 Too
Risky		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/8-11/05 51 41 8    

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 8-9, 2005. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Now thinking about the way the federal government -- that is, the government in Washington -- responded to the problems caused by the impact of the hurricane on the city of New Orleans. How would you rate the job the federal government has done in getting help to the people affected by the flooding and storm damage? Would you say the federal government has done an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or a poor job?"

.
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %
ALL 5 21 32 40 2
  Republicans 11 37 30 19 3
  Democrats 2 11 33 53 1
  Independents 5 19 33 42 1

.

"And how would you rate the job state and local governments in Louisiana have done in getting help to people in New Orleans?" Read if necessary: "Would you say the state and local governments have done an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or a poor job?"

.
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %
9/8-9/05 5 20 34 35 6

.

"As I read you some possible reasons the government didn't respond more quickly to the impact of the hurricane on New Orleans, please me tell if you think each is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason the government's response was slow. What about this possible reason: [see below]? . . ."

.
Major
Reason		 Minor
Reason		 Not a
Reason		 Unsure
% % % %

.

"The amount of destruction was unexpected and overwhelming"
9/8-9/05 57 19 21 3

.

"Poor communication between federal government officials and state and local officials"
9/8-9/05 66 17 12 5

.

"Incompetence by federal officials whose job it is to prepare for and deal with natural disasters"
9/8-9/05 55 24 16 5

.

"Incompetence by state and local officials whose job it is to prepare for and deal with natural disasters"
9/8-9/05 57 24 13 6

.

"It did not have priority because the people affected are mostly African-American"
ALL 22 18 56 4
  Whites 13 18 64 5
  Non-whites 47 18 33 3

.

"It did not have priority because the people affected are mostly poor"
ALL 29 17 49 5
  Whites 20 19 56 5
  Non-whites 53 13 32 2

.

"Which of the following, if any, do you think is MOST to blame for not getting help to people in New Orleans more quickly? State and local government officials in Louisiana. The heads of federal agencies like FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. President Bush himself."

.
  ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
  % % % %

State, local government officials

 29 53 13 29

Heads of federal agencies

 35 23 43 38

President Bush

 17 5 26 15

All equally/Combination (vol.)

 11 6 11 12

None of these/Other (vol.)

 4 8 2 3

Unsure

 4 5 5 3

.

"Please tell me whether or not government's slow response to what happened in New Orleans has made you lose confidence in government to deal with each of the following. Has it made you lose confidence in government [see below], or not?"

.
Has Has Not Unsure
% % %

.

"To deal with another major natural disaster"
9/8-9/05 57 41 2

.

"To prevent another major terrorist attack like 9/11"
9/8-9/05 47 50 3

.

"Do you feel that someone in the Bush Administration should be held accountable and fired from their job because of the slow response to what happened in New Orleans, or do you feel it shouldn't be necessary for anyone to lose their job?"

.
Fired Not Fired Unsure  
% % %  
ALL 45 48 7  
  Republicans 24 68 8  
  Democrats 58 35 7  
  Independents 48 47 5  

.

"Do you think the commitment of some Louisiana National Guard troops and equipment to the war in Iraq seriously reduced government's ability to deal with the situation in New Orleans, or not?"

.
Did Did Not Unsure  
% % %  
9/8-9/05 38 54 8  

 

Time Poll conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs. Sept. 7-8, 2005. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How would you rate the job that government at all levels did in preparing for Hurricane Katrina before it hit the Gulf Coast . . . ?"

.
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %
9/7-8/05 3 15 25 52 5

.

"How would you rate the job that government at all levels did in responding to the flooding and devastation after the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast . . . ?"

.
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %
9/7-8/05 5 19 28 46 2

.

"Do you think that the government responded to the needs of people in the areas hardest hit by the hurricane about as quickly as it could, given the circumstances, or too slowly?"

.
As Quickly
As It Could		 Too
Slowly		 Unsure
% % %
9/7-8/05 35 62 3

.

"How would you rate the job that each of the following has done in responding to the hurricane and the destruction it caused? . . ."

.
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Unsure
% % % % %

"President Bush"
9/7-8/05 11 22 25 40 2

.

"Federal government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
9/7-8/05 5 23 29 41 3

.

"State and local officials in areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina"
9/7-8/05 7 24 32 33 4

.

"The people living in areas hit hardest by the hurricane"
9/7-8/05 9 25 30 29 7

.

"How much were each of the following responsible for what went wrong with the relief effort that followed the hurricane? . . ."

.
A Great
Deal		 Some Not Much Not At All Unsure
% % % % %

"President Bush"
9/7-8/05 31 30 17 18 4

.

"Federal government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
9/7-8/05 36 34 15 11 4

.

"State and local officials in areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina"
9/7-8/05 39 34 14 8 4

.

"The people living in areas hit hardest by the hurricane"
9/7-8/05 20 37 17 21 5

.

"How worried are you that the government will not be able to provide relief and assistance to your community if a national disaster or terrorist attack were to occur . . . ?"

.
Very
Worried		 Somewhat
Worried		 Not Very
Worried		 Not
Worried
At All		 Unsure
% % % % %
9/7-8/05 27 30 19 22 2

 

Associated Press/Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. Sept. 6-8, 2005. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"How much blame does each of the following deserve for the problems in the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina? A lot, a good amount, only a little, or none at all? . . ."

.
A Lot A Good
Amount		 Only a
Little		 None
At All		 Unsure
% % % % %

.

"The state governments in the affected areas"
  9/6-8/05 44 30 18 7 1

.

"The local governments in the affected areas"
  9/6-8/05 42 25 25 7 1

.

"The U.S. government"
  9/6-8/05 38 25 28 9 -

.

"President Bush"
  9/6-8/05 32 22 29 16 1

.

"Local residents in the affected areas"
  9/6-8/05 29 20 32 18 1

.

"I'm going to read some ways that people have been feeling about the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina, and I'd like you to tell me whether the statement represents your very deepest feeling, a feeling that was somewhat deep, whether the statement crossed your mind, or whether it never occurred to you. . . ."

.
Very
Deepest		 Somewhat
Deep		 Crossed
Mind		 Never
Occurred		 Unsure
% % % % %

.

"Felt angry that relief for the hurricane victims came so slowly"
  9/6-8/05 51 16 20 12 1

.

"Felt ashamed that this could happen in our country"
  9/6-8/05 40 15 15 29 1

.
"Wondered whether the government could really help you if you became a victim of a disaster"
  9/6-8/05 26 17 30 26 1

.

"Felt the government would have responded faster if the victims weren't mostly black and poor"
  9/6-8/05 26 10 18 45 1

.

"Were worried about how this disaster might affect your own life, job, and future"
  9/6-8/05 19 13 32 35 1

.

"Felt less safe than you did before Hurricane Katrina"
  9/6-8/05 16 14 23 46 1

.

"Wished you didn't have to hear any more news about the disaster"
  9/6-8/05 13 12 24 50 1

.

"As you may know, much the City of New Orleans was built below sea level. Some people say that New Orleans is an important historic city that should be rebuilt as it existed before the hurricane, and that existing levee systems can be rebuilt and strengthened to protect the city. Others say that the parts of New Orleans that lie below sea level should be abandoned and should be rebuilt on other sites above sea level, because if they are rebuilt below sea level, they may be susceptible to damage by future storms, even if the levees are strengthened. Which comes closest to your view?"

.
As It
Existed		 Above
Sea Level		 Unsure
% % %
9/6-8/05 42 54 4

 

CBS News Poll. Sept. 6-7, 2005. N=725 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"As far as you know, do you think federal government officials did a good job or a poor job PREPARING FOR Hurricane Katrina before it hit?"

.
Good Job Poor Job Unsure    

%

%

%

    
9/6-7/05

22

69

9

    

.

"As far as you know, do you think state and local government officials in the affected areas did a good job or a poor job PREPARING FOR Hurricane Katrina  before it hit?"

.
Good Job Poor Job Unsure    

%

%

%

    
9/6-7/05

20

70

10

    

.

"Now I'd like to ask you some questions about what happened in the days just AFTER the hurricane hit the Gulf area. Do you think the federal government responded adequately to Hurricane Katrina or could it have done much better?"

.
Adequate Could Have
Done Much
Better		 Unsure    

%

%

%

    
9/6-7/05

20

77

3

    

.

"Do you think the federal government responded as fast as it could have to Hurricane Katrina or could it have moved faster?"

.
As Fast As
 Could Have		 Could Have
Moved
Faster		 Unsure    

%

%

%

    
9/6-7/05

16

80

4

    

.

"Do you think FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, responded adequately to Hurricane Katrina or could it have done much better?"

.
Adequate Could Have
Done Much
Better		 Unsure    

%

%

%

    
9/6-7/05

24

70

6

    

.

"Some people say that the federal government's reducing spending on New Orleans' levee system in past years was one of the reasons the flooding was so severe. Others say the flooding would have occurred anyway. Do you think the government's reducing spending on the levee system was a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in the flooding?"

.
A Major
Factor		 A Minor
Factor		 Not a
Factor		 Unsure  

%

%

%

%

  
9/6-7/05

45

24

21

10

  

.

"Some people have said that because the people left in New Orleans after the hurricane and flooding were mostly African American and poor, help was slow to come, and that if the people left in New Orleans had been mostly white, help would have come faster. Do you think the fact that those left in New Orleans were mostly black and poor was a major factor, a minor factor, or not a factor in the government's response in New Orleans?"

.
A Major
Factor		 A Minor
Factor		 Not a
Factor		 Unsure  

%

%

%

%

  
ALL

29

19

50

2

  
  Republicans

10

18

71

1

  
  Democrats

48

23

28

1

  
  Independents

25

17

55

3

  

.

"From what you know about the looting and other violence that occurred in New Orleans in the days after the hurricane, which statement comes closer to your opinion? There is absolutely no excuse for that kind of behavior. OR, It is understandable that this kind of behavior could have happened under the circumstances."

.
No
Excuse		 Under-
standable		 Looting OK/
Violence
Not (vol.)		 Unsure  

%

%

%

%

  
9/6-7/05

47

41

8

5

  

.

"Which of these do you think is most likely? New Orleans will become a working city again in the next year or two. New Orleans will become a working city again, but it will take longer than a year or two. New Orleans will probably never become a working city again."

.
Next Year
Or Two		  Longer Than That Never Unsure  

%

%

%

%

  
9/6-7/05

17

72

10

2

  

.

"How would you rate the way the news media have been covering Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath? Have they done an excellent job, a good job, a fair job, or a poor job covering it?"

.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsure

%

%

%

%

%
9/6-7/05

41

36

15

6

2

 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 6-7, 2005. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.5.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast?"

.
Approve Disap-
prove		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 38 52 10    

.

"How would you rate the job the federal government has been doing responding to Hurricane Katrina . . . ?"

.
Excellent/
Good		 Only Fair/
Poor		 Unsure    
% % %    
ALL 38 58 4    
  Republicans 63 32 5    
  Democrats 22 76 2    
  Independents 34 64 2    

.

"In your opinion, did President Bush do all he could to get relief efforts going quickly or do you think he could have done more?"

.
Did All
He Could		 Could Have
Done More		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 28 67 5    

.

"Thinking about the people who stayed in New Orleans during the storm and became stranded by the flooding, do you think most stayed behind because they wanted to, or most stayed behind because they didn't have a way to leave the city?" Options rotated

.
Wanted
To Stay		 No Way
To Leave		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 29 62 9    

.

"In your view, did this disaster show that racial inequality remains a major problem in this country, or don’t you think this was a particularly important lesson of the disaster?"

.
Showed It
Remains
a Problem		 Not an
Important
Lesson		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 38 50 12    

.

"Do you think the severity of Hurricane Katrina is the result of global climate change, or is Hurricane Katrina just the kind of severe weather event that happens from time to time?"

.
Result of
Climate
Change		 Happens
From Time
To Time		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 25 66 9    

.

"Has the government's response to this disaster affected your confidence in the government's ability to handle a major terrorist attack, or not?" If Yes: "Has it made you more confident or less confident?"

.
YES: More
Confident		 YES: Less
Confident		 NO Unsure  
% % % %  
9/6-7/05 7 42 46 5  

.

"Most of the people stranded in New Orleans following the hurricane were African American. Do you think the government's response to the situation would have been faster if most of the victims had been white, or don't you think this would have made any difference?"

.
Would Have
Been Faster		 No
Difference		 Unsure    
% % %    
9/6-7/05 26 68 6    

 

Zogby America Poll. Sept. 6-7, 2005. N=1,157 likely voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.9.

.

"I am going to read to you a list of issues. Please rate President Bush's handling of each as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Hurricane Katrina."

.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsure

%

%

%

%

%
ALL

12

24

17

43

4
Democrats

2

8

18

71

2
Republicans

25

42

16

13

5
Independents

6

20

18

49

7

.

"How would you assess the government response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath? Would you say it has been excellent, good, fair, or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsure

%

%

%

%

%
ALL

10

22

24

43

2
Democrats

3

9

25

62

1
Republicans

17

39

24

17

2
Independents

7

17

22

54

-

.

"How would you assess the response of private charities to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath? Would you say it has been excellent, good, fair, or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Unsure

%

%

%

%

%
9/6-7/05

55

31

6

3

5

 

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sept. 5-6, 2005. N=609 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"I'd like to ask you a few questions about Hurricane Katrina. First -- Thinking about natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or fires, do you consider Hurricane Katrina to be the worst natural disaster in the U.S. in your lifetime, or not?"

.
Worst Not the
Worst
% %
9/5-6/05 93 7

.

"Thinking now specifically about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans, Louisiana -- Do you think the city of New Orleans will ever completely recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, or not?"

.
Will Will Not Unsure
% % %
9/5-6/05 42 56 2

.

Asked of those who think New Orleans will completely recover (N=268, MoE ± 6):
"Just your best guess: How many years will it take for New Orleans to completely recover?"

.
Mean
Response		 Median
Response

.
9/5-6/05 9.3 years 7 years

.

"Do you think New Orleans should or should not be rebuilt as a major city?"

.
Should Should Not Unsure
% % %
9/5-6/05 63 34 3

.

"On a different topic: Do you think [see below] has/have done a great, good, neither good nor bad, bad, or terrible job in responding to the hurricane and subsequent flooding?"

.
Great Good Neither Good
Nor Bad		 Bad Terrible
% % % % %

.

"George W. Bush"

.
9/5-6/05 10 25 21 18 24

.

"Federal government agencies responsible for handling emergencies"

.
9/5-6/05 8 27 20 20 22

.

"State and local officials in Louisiana"

.
9/5-6/05 7 30 23 20 15

.

"Who do you think is MOST responsible for the problems in New Orleans after the hurricane: George W. Bush, federal agencies, or state and local officials -- or is no one really to blame?" Options rotated

.
Bush Federal
Agencies		 State, Local
Officials		 No One Unsure
% % % % %
9/5-6/05 13 18 25 38 6

.

"Do you think that any of the top officials in the federal agencies responsible for handling emergencies should be fired, or don't you think so?"

.
Should Be
Fired		 Don't
Think So		 Unsure
% % %
9/5-6/05 29 63 8

.

"Which comes closer to your view? All residents of New Orleans should evacuate the city. OR, The residents of New Orleans who are still in the city should be allowed to stay." Options rotated

.
Evacuate Allowed
To Stay		 Unsure
% % %
9/5-6/05 66 30 4

.

"Finally -- Based on what you have seen or read in the past day or two, do you think the progress made in dealing with the situation is satisfactory, or not?"

.
Is Is Not Unsure
% % %
9/5-6/05 62 35 3

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 2, 2005. N=501 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"How closely have you been following news about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not closely at all?"

.
Very
Closely		 Somewhat
Closely		 Not Too
Closely		 Not Closely
At All
% % % %
9/2/05 54 37 7 2

.

"Thinking about how the federal government has handled specific issues -- How would you rate the federal government's performance on [see below]: excellent, good, not so good or poor?"

.
Excellent Good Not So
Good		 Poor Unsure
% % % % %

.

"Dealing with looting and other crime"

.
9/2/05 4 22 34 37 3

.

"Conducting search-and-rescue operations"

.
9/2/05 15 42 20 19 3

.

"Do you think the federal government should have been better prepared to deal with a storm of this size, or do you think it was as prepared as it reasonably could have been?" Options rotated

.
Should Have
Been Better
Prepared		 Prepared As
Could Have
Been		 Unsure
% % %
9/2/05 67 31 2

.

"How about the state and local governments in the affected areas? Do you think they should have been better prepared to deal with a storm of this size, or do you think they were as prepared as they reasonably could have been?" Options rotated

.
Should Have
Been Better
Prepared		 Prepared As
Could Have
Been		 Unsure
% % %
9/2/05 75 24 1

.

"Do you think the deployment of some National Guard troops and equipment to Iraq has made it more difficult for state officials to respond to the hurricane situation, or do you think it hasn't had much effect on the relief effort?"

.
More
Difficult		 Hasn't Had
Much Effect		 Unsure
% % %
9/2/05 46 49 4

.

"Please tell me if each of the following does or does not describe your own personal feelings about the federal government's response to the hurricane situation. . . . "

.
Does Does Not Unsure    
% % %    
"Proud" 27 71 2    

.
"Ashamed" 44 54 1    

.
"Shocked" 55 45 1    

.

"Do you think New Orleans should be rebuilt where it is with a stronger levee system, or do you think low-lying areas of the city should be abandoned, with those homes and businesses rebuilt elsewhere?"

.
Rebuilt
Where It Is		 Rebuilt
Elsewhere		 Unsure
% % %
9/2/05 49 43 8

 

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Sept. 22-23,1999. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"After hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters, the government routinely provides disaster relief money. Do you think there should be a limit on the number of times the government gives disaster relief money to a family or business to rebuild in natural disaster prone areas?"
%
Should be a limit 44
Should not be 49
Not sure 7

 

The Gallup Poll. May 7-9, 1999. N=1,025 adults nationwide.

.

"President Clinton has declared parts of several states as disaster areas because of the tornadoes, making residents of those areas eligible for federal disaster assistance. Do you think the amount of money the federal government spends on disaster aid is not enough, about right, or too much?"
%
Not enough 33
About right 52
Too much 5
No opinion 10

.


 

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