Baton Rouge Post-Hurricane Katrina Survey: September-November, 2005*
(Entries are percentages)
�
How long have you lived in Baton Rouge?
�	�
	1 year or less	5
	2-10 years	18
	11-20 years	15
	21 years or more	30
	All my life	32
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
How likely is it that you will move away from Baton Rouge within the next two years or so?
�	�
	Very likely	15
	Somewhat likely	9
	Somewhat unlikely	6
	Very unlikely	67
	Don't Know	2
	No answer	1
		100
How long have you lived in your neighborhood?
�	�
	1 year or less	15
	2-10 years	44
	11-20 years	17
	21 years or more	18
	All my life	5
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
�	�
	Most people can be trusted	43
	Can't be too careful	47
	Other, depends (Volunteered)	8
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
Next, we'd like to know how much you trust different groups of people.� First, think about (GROUP).� Generally speaking, would you say that you can trust them a lot, some, only a little, or not at all?�
		Trust them a lot	Trust them some	Trust them only a little	Trust them not at all	(vol) Does not apply	Don't Know	Refused
	People in your neighborhood	48	32	12	5	1	2	1	100
	People you work with	45	21	7	4	18	3	1	100
	People at your church or place of worship	66	19	3	2	8	2	1	100
	People who work in the stores where you shop	25	48	17	6	1	3	1	100
	The police in your local community	48	33	9	7	1	3	1	100
	White people	30	51	7	3	3	3	2	100
	African Americans or Blacks	25	53	11	3	3	3	2	100
	Asian people	24	49	9	3	5	7	2	100
	Hispanics or Latinos	23	49	11	4	5	6	3	100
	City government	16	44	25	13	1	2	1	100
	State government	12	41	27	17	1	2	1	100
	Federal government	14	40	25	19	0	2	1	100
	Journalists	12	39	28	18	1	2	1	100
	Clergy	45	35	10	6	2	3	1	100
How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right - just about always, most of the time or only some of the time?
�	�
	None of the Time	10
	Some of the Time	62
	Most of the Time	22
	Just About Always	3
	Don't Know, Depends	2
	No answer	1
		100
The relief effort for Hurrican Katrina may cost well over 100 billion dollars. How do you think the federal government should pay for this -- by cutting spending on other programs, increasing the federal budget deficit, raising taxes, or what?
�	�
	Cutting other spending	37
	Increasing federal deficit	10
	Raising taxes	10
	Something else	25
	Pull out of Iraq (vol.)	8
	Don't Know	8
	No answer	2
		100
Would you be willing or not willing to pay more in taxes to help with the recovery from Hurricane Katrina?
�	�
	Willing	52
	Not Willing	43
	Don't Know	4
	No answer	1
		100
About how often have you ... [Insert Activity]? [If Necessary Probe with Categories]
		Every week (or more often)	Almost every week	Once or twice a month	A few times per year	Less often than that	Never	Don't know, Refused
	Had friends to home	42	14	24	13	4	2	1	100
	Visited relatives	44	13	24	12	4	1	2	100
	Socialized with co-workers	18	8	20	13	9	24	9	100
	Played cards or board games	13	7	18	15	12	34	1	100
	Attended a club meeting	10	4	24	9	8	43	1	100
	Hung out with friends	23	9	26	12	9	20	1	100
	Attended public meeting	6	3	14	21	13	43	1	100
Now I'd like to ask whether you have taken part in activities with different groups and organizations.� I'm going to read a list; just answer YES if you have been involved in the past 12 months with this kind of group.�
		Yes	No	Don't know	Refused
	Sports club	27	73	0	1	100
	Youth organization	30	69	0	1	100
	Parents' association like PTA	29	70	0	1	100
	Activities at church	60	40	0	1	100
	Neighborhood association	35	65	0	0	100
	Charity organization	46	53	0	0	100
	Professional association	36	63	1	1	100
	Hobby, investment, or garden societies	33	66	1	1	100
	Other clubs or organizations	28	71	0	1	100
	�
In the past twelve months, have you served as an officer or served on a committee of any local club or organization?
�	�
	Yes	28
	No	71
	Don't know	0
	Refused	1
		100
Now I am going to read you a series of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things.� For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it or completely disagree with it.� The first one is...
	�	Completely Agree	Mostly Agree	Mostly Disagree	Completely Disagree	Don't Know	No answer
	No Say About What the Government Does	17	25	33	24	2	1	100
	Elected Officials Care What People Like Me Think	13	40	28	18	2	1	100
	Voting Gives People a Say About Government	41	38	11	7	2	1	100
	Elected Officials in Washington Lose Touch	43	35	13	5	3	1	100
City-Parish government has limited resources and has to set priorities.� All of the following issues are important, but if the city can't do everything, which issues do you think should have the highest priority?� Take economic development: should it have the highest priority; high priority; medium priority; or lower priority?
		Highest Priority	High Priority	Medium Priority	Lower Priority	Don't Know	No answer
	Economic Development	21	50	25	3	1	1	100
	Education	50	42	5	2	0	1	100
	Reducing Traffic Congestion	28	41	25	5	1	1	100
	Fighting Crime	36	52	9	2	1	1	100
	Cleaning Up Litter	15	29	42	13	1	1	100
	Aftermath of Katrina	42	42	12	3	1	1	100
	�
Is there any area right around here - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
�	�
	Yes	44
	No	54
	Don't Know	2
	No answer	1
		100
How likely do you think it is that you may be the victim of a� crime� in the next 12 months? Would you say it is�
�	�
	Very likely	11
	Somewhat likely	22
	Somewhat unlikely	25
	Very unlikely	38
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	1
		100
How often would you say purse snatching, robbery, or other street crimes occur around your neighborhood?� Would you say these things happen:
�	�
	Very often	7
	Somewhat often	11
	Somewhat seldom	24
	Very seldom	55
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	0
		100
How often do you see drug dealers or users on the streets around your neighborhood?� Do you see them:
�	�
	Very often	12
	Somewhat often	5
	Somewhat seldom	9
	Very seldom	70
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	1
		100
We�d also like to know how you feel about safety and crime in your neighborhood, and in Baton Rouge in general.
As far as crime is concerned, how safe do you feel in Baton Rouge, outside your neighborhood?� Would you say you feel very safe, fairly safe, not very safe, or not safe at all?
�	�
	Very safe	17
	Fairly safe	63
	Not very safe	14
	Not safe at all	5
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
How about your neighborhood?� How safe do you feel it is?� Would you say you feel very safe, fairly safe, not very safe, or not safe at all?
�	�
	Very safe	58
	Fairly safe	36
	Not very safe	4
	Not safe at all	2
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	1
		100
Have you been a victim of crime in the last year?
�	�
	No	83
	Yes	17
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	1
		100
Have any of your close friends in Baton Rouge been a victim of crime in the last year?
�	�
	No	71
	Yes	27
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
Now I�d like to ask you some questions about Hurricane Katrina.
Do you think [see below] has/have done a great, good, neither good nor bad, bad, or terrible job in responding to Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding?� How about ... [go down list]
	�	Great	Good	Neither Good Nor Bad	Bad	Terrible	Don't Know	No answer
	State government	5	26	26	21	19	1	1	100
	Local government	8	43	25	12	9	2	1	100
	U.S. government	6	26	26	23	17	1	1	100
	President Bush	10	27	24	17	19	2	1	100
Have you yourself had any of the following feelings because of what's happened as a result of Hurricane Katrina?�
		Yes	Yes, just a little	No	Don't Know	No answer
	Depressed	28	20	52	0	1	100
	Angry	39	15	46	1	1	100
	Hopeful	62	13	24	1	1	100
When you think of people displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are staying in Baton Rouge, do you have any of the following feelings?�
		Yes	Yes, just a little	No	Don't Know	No answer
	Fellow-feeling, Solidarity	43	15	37	4	1	100
	Pity or Compassion	84	9	6	1	1	100
	Irritation, bother	43	18	38	1	1	100
	Fear or concern	51	15	33	0	1	100
	Happiness	25	11	60	2	2	100
Have you done unpaid volunteer work to help Hurricane evacuees?� [If yes]�� More than once?
�	�
	None	37
	Once	12
	More than Once	48
	No answer	3
		100
[If yes] Did you do this volunteer work with a religious organization, like a church? [combined from previous question]
�	�
	None	37
	Worked, but not Church	30
	Once	7
	More than Once	24
	No answer	2
		100
Do you NOW have people staying in your house or your own apartment who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina?�
[If no to previous Q] Did you EARLIER have people staying in your house or your own apartment who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina?� [questions combined:]
�	�
	No One	49
	Stayed Earlier	34
	Staying Now	16
	No Answer	1
		100
[If yes to either of 2 previous questions] Are [were] these people relatives of yours, are they friends, or what? [Check any that apply]
	Relatives	32
	Friends	19
	Colleagues, co-workers, etc	2
	Co-religionists or members of an association you belong to	0
	People you had no previous connection to	4
	Relief workers	0
	No Answer	2
How much of a problem has [Name First Item] been for you and your family lately [Read Answers]?
		Very serious problem	Somewhat serious problem	Minor problem	Not a problem at all	Don't Know	No answer
	Traffic congestion	45	28	19	7	1	1	100
	Difficulties in shopping for groceries and household items	28	26	25	21	1	1	100
	Crowding in house	8	7	11	74	0	1	100
	Crowding in neighborhood	9	9	14	67	1	1	100
	Crowding in schools	15	16	12	35	21	2	100
	Difficulties w telephone	29	16	14	40	0	1	100
	People rude or unfriendly	13	15	15	56	1	1	100
Have� rumors about crime and social unrest in Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina made you feel more concerned about your own safety?�
�	�
	Yes	53
	No	46
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
[If yes] Did you hear these rumors from people you know, from the news media, or somewhere else?
�	�
	People I know	24
	News media	20
	Somewhere else	8
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	0
	System	47
		100
[If yes] Did you change your usual daily routines because of concern for your safety, like avoiding certain parts of town or staying at home?
�	�
	Yes	27
	No	26
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	0
	System	47
		100
	[Answers combined]
�	�
	Didn't Hear Rumors	46
	Heard Rumors	26
	Changed due to Rumors	27
	No Answer	2
		100
Do you think the economy in Baton Rouge will get better or worse in the next 12 months, or will it stay the same?
�	�
	Get better	62
	Get worse	16
	Stay the same	17
	Don't Know	4
	No answer	1
		100
And do you think that Baton Rouge will get better or worse as a place to live in the next 12 months, or will it stay the same?
�	�
	Get better	38
	Get worse	30
	Stay the same	27
	Don't Know	5
	No answer	1
		100
Do you think that most Hurricane evacuees now in Baton Rouge will eventually go back to where they�re from, or do you think a lot of them will stay here?� Would you say...
�	�
	Most will go back	26
	Some will stay	28
	Lots of them will stay	43
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	1
		100
In your view, did this disaster show that racial inequality remains a major problem in this country, or don�t you think this was a particularly important lesson of the disaster?
�	�
	Showed It Remains a Problem	48
	Not an Important Lesson	44
	Don't Know	5
	No answer	2
		100
Most of the people stranded in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina were African American.� Do you think the government's response to the situation would have been faster if most of the victims had been white, or don't you think this would have made any difference?
�	�
	Would Have Been Faster	29
	No Difference	58
	Don't Know	4
	No answer	2
	System	7
		100
Next I'd like to ask you a couple questions about television and newspapers.� How many days in the past week did you read a daily newspaper?
�	�
	0	15
	1	11
	2	11
	3	10
	4	5
	5	4
	6	2
	7	42
	Don't know	1
	Refused	1
		100
�
How many hours per day do you spend watching TV (television) on an average weekday, that is Monday through Friday? [IF RESPONSE IS 12 OR GREATER, ENTER 12]
�	�
	0	3
	1	19
	2	25
	3	18
	4	10
	5	7
	6	4
	7	1
	8	2
	9	1
	10	3
	12	6
	Don't know	2
	Refused	0
		100
Now I just have a few questions about your household and your background.
First, may I ask, In what year were you born? [recoded as Age]
�	�
	18-30	26
	31-45	27
	46-60	26
	61 and Over	18
	Missing	3
		100
[IF UNSURE ASK]: Are you male or female?
�	�
	Male	48
	Female	52
		100
�
Do you consider yourself to be: [READ RESPONSE OPTIONS] White, Black, Asian, American Indian, Other.� Are you Hispanic or Latino?� [Combined answers]
�	�
	White (non-Hisp)	55
	Black (non-Hisp)	35
	Asian	2
	Hispanic	3
	Missing or Other	4
		100
Are your currently married, living with a partner, separated, divorced, widowed, or have you never been married?
�	�
	Married	55
	Living with partner	6
	Separated	2
	Divorced	8
	Widowed	6
	Single, never married	22
	Don't Know	0
	NA	1
		100
Do you have children?� How many?
�	�
	None	28
	One	17
	Two	25
	Three	14
	Four or more	12
	Other answer	2
	NA	2
		100
What is the highest grade of schooling that you have completed?
�	�
	8th Grade or less	3
	Some high school	5
	High School Diploma	20
	Vocational/Technical school	3
	Some College	24
	College degree	27
	Some graduate school	4
	Graduate degree	14
	NA	1
		100
What is your religious preference?� Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?
�	�
	Protestant	55
	Catholic	28
	Other	6
	None	9
	Don't Know	0
	NA	2
		100
Religious Fundamentalism [Previous question followed up by question about specific denomination.� Denominations categorized according to General Social Survey definitions]
�	�
	Liberal	19
	Moderate	34
	Fundamentalist	37
	Missing	10
		100
Are you a member of a local church, synagogue, or other religious or spiritual community?
�	�
	Yes	70
	No	17
	Don't Know	0
	System	12
		100
Not including weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
�	�
	Every week (or more often)	46
	Almost every week	10
	Once or twice a month	20
	A few times per year	10
	Less often than that	11
	Don't Know	1
	Refused	2
		100
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or what?� [If Republican or Democrat] Would you call yourself a strong (Republican/Democrat) or not a very strong (Republican/Democrat)?� [If Independent, No Preference, Or Other] Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or Democratic Party?� [answers combined]
�	�
	Strong Democrat	22
	Democrat	14
	Lean Democratic	8
	Independent	10
	Lean Republican	6
	Republican	14
	Strong Republican	19
	Other	2
	None	6
		100
Who did you vote for in the 2004 Presidential election?
�	�
	George W. Bush	47
	John Kerry	32
	Someone else [Volunteered]	3
	Didn't vote	11
	Don't Know	2
	NA	5
		100
And who did you vote for in the 2004 Mayoral runoff election?
�	�
	Bobby Simpson	18
	Melvin L. 'Kip' Holden	51
	Someone else [Volunteered]	2
	Didn't vote	21
	Don't Know	4
	NA	4
		100
We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives.� Would you call yourself [Read Answer Categories]:
�	�
	Extremely Liberal	6
	Liberal	11
	Slightly Liberal	8
	Moderate, middle of the road	26
	Slightly Conservative	14
	Conservative	21
	Extremely Conservative	6
	Don't Know	5
	NA	3
		100
�
Just one more question: I�m going to read you a series of income categories.� Please stop me when I get to the category that includes the total income that you and all other members of your household earned before taxes during 2001, from all sources.
�	�
	Under $15,000	11
	Under $25,000	7
	Under $35,000	9
	Under $50,000	12
	Under $75,000	14
	Under $100,000	13
	More than $100,000	15
	Don't Know	8
	No Response	11
		100
This concludes the interview.� Thank you for participating in this survey and giving so generously of your time.
*Note.� Survey conducted by Frederick Weil, Edward Shihadeh, and Matthew Lee of the Sociology Department at Louisiana State University.� Interviews were done September 27 to November 29, 2005.� Data are based on a random-digit-dialed telephone sample, representative of the general population age 18 and over in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.� Survey includes 1,349 completed interviews.� The results are weighted to reflect the combined age-gender-race/hispanic distributions, according to U.S. Census estimates for 2004.� Data collection was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.