| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #6780 |
| 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. |
 | Is the federal government doing too much? Not enough? Or just the right amount to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.8 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Too Much | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 1% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Not Enough | 59% | 57% | 61% | 65% | 57% | 55% | 55% | 75% | 66% | 55% | 64% | 55% | 59% | 58% |
| Right Amount | 32% | 34% | 30% | 28% | 35% | 33% | 35% | 15% | 28% | 33% | 27% | 35% | 34% | 31% |
| Not Sure | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 7% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | At this hour, are local officials on the Gulf Coast prepared? ... Or unprepared to respond to the challenge that is before them? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.5 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Prepared | 14% | 12% | 16% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 17% | 10% | 13% | 18% | 15% | 11% |
| Unprepared | 75% | 78% | 72% | 75% | 77% | 72% | 75% | 75% | 71% | 76% | 75% | 72% | 75% | 79% |
| Not Sure | 11% | 9% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 14% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | 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? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Surprisingly Organized | 14% | 15% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 19% | 15% | 14% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 11% |
| About What You Would Expect | 51% | 49% | 52% | 54% | 51% | 46% | 52% | 45% | 51% | 50% | 49% | 54% | 49% | 51% |
| Surprisingly Disorganized | 34% | 35% | 32% | 33% | 35% | 32% | 32% | 39% | 38% | 36% | 36% | 29% | 33% | 37% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | Thinking just about the President of the United States ... Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Approve | 46% | 48% | 45% | 41% | 48% | 49% | 51% | 29% | 38% | 38% | 37% | 52% | 48% | 45% |
| Disapprove | 44% | 44% | 44% | 45% | 43% | 43% | 41% | 55% | 49% | 45% | 52% | 40% | 42% | 44% |
| Not Sure | 10% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 16% | 12% | 17% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 11% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | 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? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Rebuilt With Public Money | 32% | 29% | 36% | 42% | 29% | 27% | 28% | 50% | 42% | 33% | 32% | 29% | 36% | 31% |
| Rebuilt With Private Money | 41% | 47% | 35% | 38% | 42% | 42% | 42% | 34% | 41% | 35% | 39% | 43% | 39% | 42% |
| Not Rebuilt | 19% | 18% | 20% | 13% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 7% | 13% | 24% | 22% | 20% | 17% | 18% |
| Not Sure | 8% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 9% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | 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? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.9 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Rebuilt With Public Money | 30% | 28% | 32% | 39% | 27% | 24% | 26% | 50% | 42% | 20% | 32% | 26% | 32% | 29% |
| Rebuilt With Private Money | 33% | 36% | 30% | 33% | 33% | 34% | 33% | 29% | 35% | 38% | 31% | 34% | 32% | 36% |
| Not Rebuilt | 31% | 32% | 30% | 22% | 35% | 36% | 35% | 17% | 21% | 38% | 33% | 35% | 30% | 28% |
| Not Sure | 5% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | Do you personally know someone who has been directly affected by the hurricane? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.7 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Yes | 32% | 36% | 28% | 31% | 38% | 25% | 32% | 40% | 25% | 27% | 23% | 27% | 42% | 28% |
| No | 66% | 62% | 70% | 67% | 60% | 72% | 66% | 56% | 71% | 70% | 75% | 70% | 55% | 71% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 1% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |
 | Have you personally made a donation to help those affected by the hurricane? |
| 1200 Adults | All | Gender | Age | Race | Region | |||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.8 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Northeas | Midwest | South | West | |
| Yes | 39% | 38% | 40% | 38% | 38% | 41% | 39% | 42% | 41% | 27% | 38% | 34% | 43% | 37% |
| No | 58% | 60% | 57% | 60% | 60% | 54% | 58% | 57% | 56% | 68% | 58% | 63% | 55% | 60% |
| Not Sure | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 32% | 40% | 28% | 72% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 23% | 36% | 22% |