As hurricane season begins, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is optimistic. Citing a number of changes in the agency that was embarrassed during Hurricane Katrina, Chertoff says that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is much more prepared than we were last year or any previous year.

However, the general public is not convinced, at least not yet. Just 41% of the nations adults believe that emergency service agencies will be better prepared this year. Forty-five percent (45%) expect the emergency services response will be about the same while 9% expect emergency services to be worse.

Upper income Americans are more likely to believe that emergency service agencies will be better perpared this year. Among those who earn less than $20,000 a year, just 26% expect emergency services to be worse.

Most Americans (58%) believe we are heading into a period of more extreme weather events. Nearly as many (55%) believe that global warming is creating climate change leading to more extreme weather. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Democrats hold this view along with just 35% of Republicans.

As for this year, 32% expect more hurricanes while 18% expect less storms.

One-fourth of all Americans (25%) believe they live close enough to the shore to potentially be impacted by hurricanes.