Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #6780

Geography Surveyed: Continental United States
Data Collected: 09/01/2005
Release Date: 09/01/2005 2:49 PM ET
Sponsors: KABC-TV Los Angeles, KATU-TV Portland, KEYE-TV Austin, KFOR-TV Oklahoma City, KGTV-TV San Diego, KING-TV Seattle, KJRH-TV Tulsa, KPIX-TV San Francisco, KPNX-TV Phoenix, KPRC-TV Houston, KSDK-TV St. Louis, KSL-TV Salt Lake City, KTHV-TV Little Rock, KUSA-TV Denver, KVBC-TV Las Vegas, KWCH-TV Wichita, KXAS-TV Dallas, KXTV-TV Sacramento, WABC-TV New York, WBIR-TV Knoxville, WBTV-TV Charlotte, WBZ-TV Boston, WCAU-TV Philadelphia, WCPO-TV Cincinnati, WCSC-TV Charleston, WCSH-TV Portland, WDIV-TV Detroit, WFLA-TV Tampa, WFMY-TV Greensboro, NC, WFOR-TV Miami, WGRZ-TV Buffalo, WHAS-TV Louisville, WHO-TV Des Moines, WKMG-TV Orlando, WKRG-TV Mobile-Pensacola, WKYC-TV Cleveland, WLNE-TV Providence, WLTX-TV Columbia, SC, WMAR-TV Baltimore, WNEP-TV Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, WOAI-TV San Antonio, WPTV-TV West Palm Beach, WRGB-TV Albany, WSLS-TV Roanoke, WTLV-TV Jacksonville, WTVD-TV Raleigh, WUSA-TV Washington, DC, WXIA-TV Atlanta, WXIN-TV Indianapolis, WYTV-TV Youngstown, WZZM-TV Grand Rapids

Federal government not doing enough: 59% of Americans today say the Federal government is not doing enough to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, according to an exclusive SurveyUSA nationwide poll of 1,200 adults conducted Thursday 9/1. This is up 9 points, from 50%, in the past 24 hours.

Local officials unprepared: 75% of Americans today say that local officials are unprepared to meet the challenge that is before them. That is up 14 points, from 61%, in the past 24 hours.

Government surprisingly disorganized: 34% of Americans today say the government's response to the hurricane has been surprisingly disorganized, up 14 points in 24 hours.

Should New Orleans be rebuilt? 31% of Americans now say the city of New Orleans should not be rebuilt, up 7 points in the past 24 hours.

Context: 1,200 adults nationwide were interviewed 8/31. Identical questions were asked to a separate sample of 1,200 adults 9/1. Like the situation on the ground, which is volatile, public opinion is fluid, consensus just beginning to form. SurveyUSA attempts here to capture snapshots of a unique moment in time in American history. Some portions of the Southeast were without electricity and telephone service during the field period for this survey; areas without phone service would be under-represented in this telephone survey.

1
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.8 percentage points.

Is the federal government doing too much? Not enough? Or just the right amount to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina?

4% Too Much
59% Not Enough
32% Right Amount
5% Not Sure

2
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.5 percentage points.

At this hour, are local officials on the Gulf Coast prepared? ... Or unprepared to respond to the challenge that is before them?

14% Prepared
75% Unprepared
11% Not Sure

3
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.9 percentage points.

Has the government's response to the hurricane been ... surprisingly organized? About what you would expect given the size of the damage? Or, surprisingly disorganized?

14% Surprisingly Organized
51% About What You Would Expect
34% Surprisingly Disorganized
2% Not Sure

4
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.9 percentage points.

Thinking just about the President of the United States ... Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina?

46% Approve
44% Disapprove
10% Not Sure

5
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.9 percentage points.

In general, when coastal areas are damaged by hurricanes, should those areas be rebuilt with public money? Rebuilt with private money? Or should they not be rebuilt?

32% Rebuilt With Public Money
41% Rebuilt With Private Money
19% Not Rebuilt
8% Not Sure

6
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.9 percentage points.

Now focusing specifically on the City of New Orleans, which is below sea level: should the city of New Orleans be rebuilt with public money? Rebuilt with private money? Or should the city not be rebuilt?

30% Rebuilt With Public Money
33% Rebuilt With Private Money
31% Not Rebuilt
5% Not Sure

7
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.7 percentage points.

Do you personally know someone who has been directly affected by the hurricane?

32% Yes
66% No
2% Not Sure

8
   Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.8 percentage points.

Have you personally made a donation to help those affected by the hurricane?

39% Yes
58% No
3% Not Sure

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   Statement of Methodology
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