Cash-strapped Floridians aren’t hurricane-ready

ORLANDO, Fla. – June 18, 2008 – Many Floridians haven’t upgraded their homes to mitigate potential hurricane damage. The key reason: They can’t afford it.

According to a recent Mason-Dixon poll, 50 percent of Florida homeowners do not have a disaster plan, and 88 percent have done nothing to strengthen their homes against potential hurricane damage. Many Florida residents indicate that, though their homes are along the coasts, they have other financial priorities that must be addressed before they can consider spending money on hurricane-proofing their homes.

The current economic recession, burgeoning insurance costs and rising gas prices continue to place financial pressure on homeowners across the country, but Florida residents are among the hardest hit.

Empire Construction and Develop Corp. Partner Evan Weber says, “People are worried about other things, the cost of gas and feeding their families.” He also cautions that despite the pleadings of government officials, very few homeowners are taking heed of the warnings. Moreover, some critics suspect that Florida homeowners have been lulled into a false sense of security because the state has not been hit by a hurricane in the last couple of years.

Gov. Charlie Crist has urged homeowners to at least stockpile food and water should a catastrophe strike.

Source: 
Agence France Presse (06/11/08) Gentile, Carmen

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