The telephone poll, which surveyed 5,000 residents living within 20 miles of a coast in eight states, also determined that 78% of the people who would stay behind believe their homes would withstand a significant storm. More than half thought roads during an evacuation would be too crowded, and more than a third believed their personal safety would be an issue.
The safety concern recalls the horror stories about New Orleans residents who sought refuge in the Superdome in the wake of Katrina. It is sadly telling that many of us would rather spit in the face of, say, a Category 4 hurricane than to hunker down in a shelter with our fellow man.
Those who want to live on the coast but are worried about having to make the decision to stay or leave do have some options. Some coastal cities have much better track records when it comes to storms than do others. In the last 100 years, for example, the geographically blessed Savannah has suffered just one storm that packed winds over 80 miles per hour, and that one came across the panhandle of Florida to whack the Georgia city in the backside. No really big Atlantic storm has reached the city, which is the most western of all east coast cities. Before any hurricane can snuggle its way into Savannah's harbor, the gulf stream moves it up the coast. Savannah's gain is Charleston's loss.
More details about the Harvard study can be found at the university's School of Public Health web site [click here].