Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #6786

Geography Surveyed: Continental United States
Data Collected: 09/02/2005
Release Date: 09/02/2005 1:48 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

America Reaction to Katrina as of 9/2/05: 2 of 3 Americans today Friday 9/2/05 say the Federal Government is * not * doing enough to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This is up from 59% yesterday (Thursday 9/1) and up from 50% on Wednesday (8/31). 49% today say the government's response to the hurricane has been "surprisingly disorganized," up from 34% Thursday and up from 20% on Wednesday. 81% of Americans today say local officials are unprepared to meet the challenges before them, up from 75% on Thursday and up from 61% on Wednesday. 53% of Americans today disapprove of President Bush's handling of the situation, up from 44% Thursday and up from 39% on Wednesday. 1 in 3 adults nationwide say the city of New Orleans should not be rebuilt.

Context and Pollster Caveat: SurveyUSA, on behalf of its media clients, interviewed 1,200 adults nationwide on Wednesday 8/31. Identical questions were asked to a separate nationwide sample of 1,200 adults on Thursday 9/1. Identical questions were asked to a separate nationwide sample of 1,200 adults today Friday 9/2. Events are unfolding rapidly. Public opinion is fluid. SurveyUSA attempts here to capture and preserve, in day-by-day snapshots, unique and extraordinary moments in American history. Some portions of the Gulf Coast were without telephone service during the field periods for these surveys. Areas without phone service are under-represented.

1
  Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.7 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
68% Not Enough
26% Right Amount
2% Not Sure

2
  Asked of 1200 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.3 percentage points.

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

12% Prepared
81% Unprepared
7% 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?

8% Surprisingly Organized
42% About What You Would Expect
49% Surprisingly Disorganized
1% 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?

40% Approve
53% Disapprove
7% 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?

33% Rebuilt With Public Money
40% 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?

28% Rebuilt With Public Money
33% Rebuilt With Private Money
33% Not Rebuilt
6% Not Sure

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