New Poll Finds Texans Not Prepared for Hurricane Season
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A large majority of Texas residents are not taking necessary steps to protect their property this hurricane season despite the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, according to a new poll conducted online by SurveyMonkey on behalf of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). The poll found 72% of residents in the state have not taken any precautions this year in advance of hurricane season. Nearly 15% reported that their property was damaged in last year’s hurricanes.
Texas is the second-most hurricane-prone state behind only Florida, where residents are far more prepared for storms. 64% of Floridians said they’ve taken precautions to prepare for hurricane season.
According to the final U.S. Geological Survey analysis of Hurricane Harvey, the storm dropped more than 60 inches of rain in some locations. That number shatters the previous continental United States record of 48 inches set in 1978’s Hurricane Amelia. Harvey is also the second-costliest U.S. hurricane in history, as it inflicted $125 billion in damage, second only to Hurricane Katrina’s inflation-adjusted $160 billion.
According to FEMA, 80 percent of all households affected by Harvey did not have flood coverage.
The poll found that just a quarter of Texans have flood insurance and more than 15% don’t know whether their existing insurance policy covers flood damage. Nearly 75% have not spoken to their insurance company about obtaining additional coverages such as flood insurance.
“These results are disappointing as we saw first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Harvey,” said Joe Woods, vice president, state government relations for PCI. “As we enter what is traditionally the peak of hurricane season we encourage residents to proactively speak to their insurance agents about purchasing additional flood insurance coverage.”
EMERGENCY PLANS
- Just 38% of residents are familiar with their local municipality, county, or state evacuation plan, with the same percentage saying they have developed an emergency plan and shared it with their household
- 63% in Texas do not have an emergency bag, which includes necessities such as medication, non-perishable food, and water
- Nearly 71% of all residents have not conducted a home inventory in the event that property and/or possessions are destroyed, damaged, or lost in a disaster
FINANCIAL PREPARATIONS
- More than a third (37%) of residents do not have readily available cash or savings to meet short term expenses that may arise following a natural disaster
- Only 57% report that they have stored important financial papers and documents in a safe deposit box or online for easy access.
CONTRACTOR FRAUD & ABUSE
Following a severe weather event it is common for crooked contractors to try and take advantage of consumers needing repairs, according to PCI. These contractors make false promises, take full payment upfront and never finish the work or even create damage where none existed.
- 69% are at least somewhat familiar with the signs of contractor fraud and abuse
- Yet, 15% said they would pay upfront for the rebuilding or repair costs if it meant getting their property fixed more quickly and 20% aren’t sure if they would
- 12% of residents said they would accept an unsolicited offer from someone to make repairs to their home
