THE HARRIS POLL #60, December 5, 2001

by Humphrey Taylor

A new issue of The Harris Poll^® looks at the level of public anxiety about personal safety because of recent events, and people's preparedness to evacuate their homes and workplaces in the event of a terrorist attack or other disaster.

The level of anxiety is smaller than some other surveys have suggested. Only 10% of all adults say they are "extremely" or "very anxious" about their personal safety, while 52% are "not very" or "not at all anxious." Over a third of the public (37%) are "somewhat anxious."

Most people (57%) say they are no more anxious now than they were before September 11^th, but more than two out of five people (42%) say they are more anxious now.

These are the results of The Harris Poll of 1,011 adults surveyed by telephone between November 14 and 20, 2001, by Harris Interactive^SM.

This survey also found very large numbers of people have done little to prepare themselves for a terrorist attack or other disaster:

• 52% of all adults say they do not know who to contact about emergency plans for their community
  
• 58% say they have no plans to evacuate from their homes quickly and safely
  
• 45% of those who work say they have no plans to evacuate their workplaces quickly and safely.

This issue of The Harris Poll also includes several questions which were last asked in May this year, to see if and how public sentiment might have changed as a result of events since September 11^th and the weakening economy. With two exceptions these measures of the public’s mood found only modest changes. There is little change in the numbers who feel good about their health (+1%), the quality of their lives (no change), their jobs (-3%) and (this may be a surprise) their financial security (-3%).

The two significant changes are:

• Those who feel good about the "state of the nation," up 15 points from 54% to 69%.
  
• Those who feel good about their children’s future down 6 points from 62% to 56%.

HOW ANXIOUS ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY

"Considering what has happened in the world since September 11^th, how do you feel about your personal safety? Would you describe yourself as extremely anxious, very anxious, somewhat anxious, not very anxious or not at all anxious?"

Base: All Adults

People in the East (14%), aged 18-24 (18%), black (20%), Hispanic (14%), household income less than $15,000 (15%), people with disabilities (18%).

Populations with significantly higher proportions who are not at all anxious:

People aged 18-24 (33%), male (36%), post-graduates (33%), household income $15,000 - $25,000 (38%) or $35,000 - $50,000 (35%).

MORE/LESS ANXIOUS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11^th

"Are you more or less concerned for your personal safety now than you were before September 11^th, or is your level of concern about the same?"

Base: All Adults

People aged 24-29 (61%) and 30 – 39 (54%), female (51%), black (61%), Hispanic (53%), household incomes over $75,000 (51%).

IF TERRORIST ATTACK OR OTHER DISASTER, WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT EMERGENCY PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY?

"If a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other crisis were to occur, do you know who to contact about emergency plans for your community?"

Base: All Adults

People aged 18-24 (66%), black (60%), high school or less education (60%), household income less than $15,000 (64%).

IF TERRORIST ATTACK OR OTHER DISASTER . . . WHERE YOU LIVE DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EVACUATE QUICKLY AND SAFELY?

"In the case of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other crisis at the place where you live, have you made plans to evacuate quickly and safely from you home?"

Base: All Adults

Male (66%), black (74%), college graduate (67%), household incomes $25,000 - $35,000.

IF TERRORIST ATTACK OR OTHER DISASTER WHERE YOU WORK, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EVACUATE QUICKLY AND SAFELY?

"In the case of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other crisis at the place where you work, have plans been made for you to evacuate quickly and safely?"

Base: Employed

People in the East (57%), household incomes $15,000 – $25,000 (56%) and $25,000 - $35,000.

FEEL GOOD INDEX (PARTIAL)

CHANGES SINCE MAY 2001

"Do you feel good about . . . ?"

Base: All Adults

This issue of The Harris Poll^® was conducted by telephone within the United States between November 14 – 20, 2001 among a nationwide cross section of 1,011 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is difficult or impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors.

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Q405-435