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Californians
believe that their state is prone to
disasters, but see little motivation to
prepare for nature's crushing blows, a new
poll has found.
The poll,
sponsored by the Insurance Information Network
of California and Fireman's Fund Insurance
Company, found that only 22 percent of
Californians consider themselves to be
prepared or very prepared for a disaster in
their area.
Nearly half
singled out "common sense" as the
reason to prepare for disaster, but noted few
incentives that would motivate them to be
ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires.
The largest segment of respondents -- only 10
percent -- cited a local disaster as the
reason to prepare for future risk. No other
possible motivation -- from financial
incentives to educational programs -- was
acknowledged by more than 9 percent of those
polled.
"Californians
are conflicted about disaster
preparation," said IINC Executive
Director Candysse Miller. "They recognize
risk, but they often assume it will happen to
someone else. They acknowledge that they
aren't prepared, but they can't find the
motivation to strap their water heaters, clear
dry brush or prepare a home inventory."
In the wake
of Hurricane Katrina, Californians also do not
believe that they should count on government
to bail them out financially after the next
catastrophe. Many respondents indicated,
however, that government should play a role in
the preparation for and recovery after a
catastrophe.
"Clearly,
it is critical for us as an industry to find
ways to encourage consumers to get better
prepared for natural disasters -- both
physically and financially," said Chris
Heidrick, vice president, Personal Insurance,
Fireman's Fund. "As we approach the 100th
anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco
earthquake and fire, it is important to remind
ourselves of the impact that floods, wildfires
and earthquakes can have on our homes and our
lives."
The survey,
which polled 800 residents across the state
Feb. 4-8, also found that Californians
ultimately consider it their own
responsibility to be financially prepared for
disaster.
Among the
findings:
* 60 percent
believe that there is more than a 10 percent
chance of a catastrophe in their area in the
next five years.
* 68 percent of those surveyed indicated that
they rely on the insurance industry to help
home and business owners rebuild after a
disaster.
* 69 percent said that it is a home or
business owner's responsibility to purchase
adequate insurance or have savings set aside
for emergencies, and that they should not rely
on government or others to assist them in
rebuilding following a catastrophe.
* Only 20 percent believed that government
financial assistance would see them through
disaster recovery.
"People
have a responsibility for what they do,"
said one respondent, a 49-year-old Ventura
County man. "You have to get down to
business, protect your family and plan for bad
things to happen."
Despite
California's history of catastrophic
earthquakes, wildfires and flooding, many poll
respondents felt that the West Coast offered
them a relatively safe environment.
"I live
in a disaster-free zone," said a
66-year-old woman from San Diego County, where
wildfires destroyed nearly 2,500 homes and
caused more than $1 billion damage in 2003.
Since 1990,
California has experienced 32 natural
catastrophes or disasters in which insured
losses totaled more than $25 million, with
losses totaling $19.4 billion.
Even if a
disaster struck their neighborhood, 31 percent
of respondents said they would rebuild in
their current community.
Nearly equal
percentages of those polled considered the
state to be both best prepared (35 percent)
for earthquakes and least prepared (30
percent) for earthquakes among the disasters
the state faces. Only tsunamis (40 percent)
scored higher for the peril Californians
consider themselves least prepared to handle.
IINC and
Fireman's Fund partnered to sponsor the poll
in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the
1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, which
nearly leveled the city.
(article
taken from Insurance Journal)
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