69% Concerned About Economic Impact Of Hurricane Irene

While Hurricane Irene did less damage than originally predicted, Americans nationwide still are concerned about the hurricane’s impact on the struggling U.S. economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 69% are at least somewhat concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Irene on the economy, including 32% who are Very Concerned. Just 30% are not as concerned about the economic impact of Irene, but that includes only six percent (6%) who are not concerned at all. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

There’s little difference of opinion between those who live close enough to a shoreline to be affected by hurricanes and those that don’t.

Just over one-third of Americans (35%) think the federal government should bear most of the financial responsibility for areas affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. That’s little changed from earlier this year but is down from 44% in May 2007. Twenty-five percent (25%) say local agencies should primarily bear the cost for areas affected by natural disasters, but slightly more (29%) think the individuals affected should take that responsibility. Another 11% are undecided.

Interestingly, there's little difference of opinion on this question between those who live close enough to the shoreline to be impacted by a hurricane and those who don't. 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 26-27, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.