Effect of previous experience of a hurricane on preparedness for future hurricanes

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that having experie nced a major hurricane will promote better preparedness for future ones. A survey was conducted in November 1999 at Miami children's Hospital. No stat istical differences were found between the population that was present in D ade County during hurricane Andrew and the one that was not; in regard of t he possession of a generator at home, the obtaining of material to secure t heir home, the presence of hurricane shutters, the willingness to evacuate their home in case of advise. Only 37% of the families that experienced hur ricane Andrew would go to a shelter versus 49% for the families that did no t (P<.05). It was concluded that we can safely reject the hypothesis that h aving experienced a major hurricane will promote better preparedness for fu ture ones. Those who experienced hurricane Andrew were less willing to go t o a shelter com pared with the group that did not. (Am J Emerg Med 2001;19: 276-279, Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company).