"Not MY House" - 1,000+ Resident Florida Survey Shows Flood Maps Don't Change Anyone's Minds

[hatrack]

EDIT

With permission of the First Street Foundation to reproduce their maps that represent what flooding in the future might look like, we developed a survey to understand the effectiveness of tailored messages. How would this messaging impact residents’ beliefs about climate change and sea level rise? We also asked if residents believed their communities and homes were at risk. We surveyed more than 1,000 residents living in 166 ZIP codes in South Florida between October and December of 2018. All those surveyed were at risk from either the direct or indirect effects of flooding to their homes, including a decrease in property values as coastal property is perceived as a less desirable destination.

We sampled residents of seven metropolitan areas including Tampa-Saint Petersburg-Clearwater, Fort Myers, Key West, Miami-Dade County, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach, and Vero Beach. Half the sample received a map of their own city, rendered at a scale so that their city block was visible. The maps illustrated what could happen just 15 years from now at the present rate of sea level rise if there were a Category 3 hurricane accompanied by storm surge flooding.

Surprisingly, we found that those who had viewed the maps were, on average, less likely to say they believed that climate change was taking place than those who had not seen the maps. Further, those who saw the maps were less likely than those survey respondents who had not seen the maps to believe that climate change was responsible for the increased intensity of storms. Respondents who classified themselves as Republicans had the strongest negative responses to the maps.

Those who saw the maps were no more likely to believe that climate change exists, that climate change increases the severity of storms or that sea level is rising and related to climate change. Even more dramatically, exposure to the scientific map did not influence beliefs that their own homes were susceptible to flooding or that sea level rise would reduce local property values.

EDIT

https://theconversation.com/sea-level-rise-wont-affect-my-house-even-flood-maps-dont-sway-florida-coastal-residents-130433

[greymattermom]

1. Insurance companies may not agree with them.

What about banks? What about home equity loans?

[beachbumbob]

2. no survey is needed to predict that most people IGNORE future consequences until the

water is up to their noses.

Its NORMAL human behavior and is to be expected

[hatrack]

5. True, but you've got to wonder . . .

What do they do when the doctor says it's cancer? Yell "fake news!" and light up another smoke?

[beachbumbob]

6. many do disrequard what doctors say too

why we have suck numbers of people in poor health. Many clearly will not change diet or stop smoking either

[NickB79]

7. 2/3 of American adults are overweight despite knowing the risks

We hate to acknowledge reality when it forces us to make difficult decisions.

[hatrack]

8. People gonna people, I guess . . .

.

[mitch96]

3. Yup, like playing musical chairs... SELL SELL SELL that real estate till just before the flood hits

Then bail out.. So Fla is real estate scam city.. LIke the real estate bubble that burst the banks, lenders brokers and buyer went balls to the wall till just before the crash..Of course the big guys will get the bail out and the little guys will get shite...
m

[SamKnause]

4. They can read the map under water in their homes and businesses.