Baton Rouge Post-Hurricane Katrina Survey: February-April, 2006*
(Entries are percentages)
Preliminary Results
�
How long have you lived in Baton Rouge?
�	�
	1 year or less	5
	2-10 years	16
	11-20 years	12
	21 years or more	29
	All my life	35
	Don't Know	3
	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	17
	Somewhat likely	12
	Somewhat unlikely	9
	Very unlikely	61
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	1
		100
How long have you lived in your neighborhood?
�	�
	1 year or less	12
	2-10 years	43
	11-20 years	17
	21 years or more	17
	All my life	8
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	0
		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	41
	Can't be too careful	50
	Other, depends (Volunteered)	7
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	0
		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	46	34	11	6	1	1	0	100
	People you work with	43	23	7	5	18	4	0	100
	People at your church or place of worship	63	19	5	3	8	2	1	100
	People who work in the stores where you shop	24	48	17	8	2	2	0	100
	The police in your local community	41	40	9	8	1	2	0	100
	White people	30	54	6	3	3	3	2	100
	African Americans or Blacks	24	56	9	4	2	3	2	100
	Asian people	23	52	9	4	5	4	2	100
	Hispanics or Latinos	20	53	10	6	5	5	2	100
	City government	14	48	23	12	1	2	0	100
	State government	11	43	27	17	0	2	0	100
	Federal government	12	41	27	18	0	2	0	100
	Journalists	11	40	27	19	1	2	0	100
	Clergy	45	38	8	4	3	2	0	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	9
	Some of the Time	61
	Most of the Time	25
	Just About Always	3
	Don't Know, Depends	2
	No answer	0
		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	36
	Increasing federal deficit	15
	Raising taxes	11
	Something else	23
	Pull out of Iraq (vol.)	7
	Don't Know	7
	No answer	1
		100
Would you be willing or not willing to pay more in taxes to help with the recovery from Hurricane Katrina?
�	�
	Willing	51
	Not Willing	46
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	1
		100
Do you think that State and Local Government will have to make more budget cuts to help with the recovery from the Hurricanes?
�	�
	Yes	81
	No	15
	Don't know	4
	Refused	1
		100
�
Do you think that any budget cuts at the state and local level will affect you personally?
�	�
	Yes	52
	Yes, Just a little	17
	No	29
	Don't know	2
	Refused	0
		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	38	14	28	12	4	3	2	100
	Visited relatives	39	16	26	12	3	1	2	100
	Socialized with co-workers	14	9	21	12	9	25	9	100
	Played cards or board games	13	9	18	12	12	34	3	100
	Attended a club meeting	11	6	21	9	11	41	1	100
	Hung out with friends	20	13	22	14	9	20	3	100
	Attended public meeting	5	4	15	15	11	48	2	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	25	75	1	0	100
	Youth organization	26	74	1	0	100
	Parents' association like PTA	56	43	1	0	100
	Activities at church	29	70	0	0	100
	Neighborhood association	39	60	1	0	100
	Charity organization	28	71	1	0	100
	Professional association	29	70	1	0	100
	Hobby, investment, or garden societies	28	71	1	0	100
	Other clubs or organizations	26	74	1	0	100
	�
In the past twelve months, have you served as an officer or served on a committee of any local club or organization?
�	�
	Yes	24
	No	75
	Don't know	1
	Refused	0
		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	15	32	30	22	1	0	100
	Elected Officials Care What People Like Me Think	38	44	10	6	1	0	100
	Voting Gives People a Say About Government	41	37	12	7	2	1	100
	Elected Officials in Washington Lose Touch	11	40	31	16	2	0	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	18	49	29	4	1	0	100
	Education	55	39	3	2	1	0	100
	Reducing Traffic Congestion	26	40	25	7	1	0	100
	Fighting Crime	38	50	10	2	1	0	100
	Cleaning Up Litter	11	31	40	18	1	0	100
	Aftermath of Katrina	33	45	17	4	2	0	100
	�
Is there any area right around here - that is, within a mile - where you would be afraid to walk alone at night?
�	�
	Yes	47
	No	52
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	0
		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	8
	Somewhat likely	21
	Somewhat unlikely	30
	Very unlikely	37
	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	8
	Somewhat often	14
	Somewhat seldom	25
	Very seldom	50
	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	10
	Somewhat often	10
	Somewhat seldom	11
	Very seldom	67
	Don't Know	3
	No answer	0
		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	16
	Fairly safe	61
	Not very safe	15
	Not safe at all	7
	Don't Know	2
	No answer	0
		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	55
	Fairly safe	37
	Not very safe	5
	Not safe at all	3
	Don't Know	0
		100
Have you been a victim of crime in the last year?
�	�
	No	82
	Yes	18
	Don't Know	0
		100
Have any of your close friends in Baton Rouge been a victim of crime in the last year?
�	�
	No	63
	Yes	35
	Don't Know	2
	No answer	0
		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	6	25	28	22	18	2	0	100
	Local government	7	40	27	14	9	2	0	100
	U.S. government	4	21	28	28	18	2	0	100
	President Bush	7	21	24	21	25	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	23	16	59	1	0	100
	Angry	39	17	43	1	0	100
	Hopeful	58	16	25	1	0	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	38	19	37	5	1	100
	Pity or Compassion	77	13	9	1	0	100
	Irritation, bother	50	16	33	1	0	100
	Fear or concern	50	18	30	1	0	100
	Happiness	24	16	57	2	1	100
Have you done unpaid volunteer work to help Hurricane evacuees since the new year, I mean since January 1, 2006?� [If yes] More than once since January 1?
	No, haven't done volunteer work since January 1	59
	Once	11
	More than once	30
	Don't Know, No answer	0
		100
[If once] How about more than once at any time since the Hurricanes?�
	Just Once	5
	More than Once	5
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	0
	System	89
		100
[If no] Did you do unpaid volunteer work to help Hurricane evacuees at any time since the Hurricanes?� [If yes] More than once?
	No, haven't done volunteer work	37
	Once	7
	More than once	15
	Don't know	0
	Refused	0
	System	41
		100
[If yes to any of 3 previous] Did you do this volunteer work with a religious organization, like a church?
	Yes	30
	No	33
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	0
	System	37
		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	50
	Stayed Earlier	41
	Staying Now	9
	No Answer	0
		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	33
	Friends	18
	Colleagues, co-workers, etc	2
	Co-religionists or members of an association you belong to	1
	People you had no previous connection to	4
	Relief workers	1
	No Answer	3
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	40	27	22	9	1	0	100
	Difficulties in shopping for groceries and household items	15	19	29	36	1	0	100
	Crowding in house	7	5	11	76	1	0	100
	Crowding in neighborhood	7	10	14	68	1	0	100
	Crowding in schools	13	15	13	39	19	2	100
	Difficulties w telephone	8	12	14	66	1	0	100
	People rude or unfriendly	13	17	17	52	1	0	100
Have� rumors about crime and social unrest in Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina made you feel more concerned about your own safety?�
�	�
	Yes	44
	No	55
	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	18
	News media	21
	Somewhere else	5
	Don't Know	0
	No answer	0
	System	56
		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	18
	No	25
	Don't Know	0
	System	56
		100
	[Answers combined]
�	�
	Didn't Hear Rumors	55
	Heard Rumors	26
	Changed due to Rumors	18
	No Answer	1
		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	13
	Stay the same	22
	Don't Know	4
	No answer	0
		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	43
	Get worse	26
	Stay the same	26
	Don't Know	5
	No answer	0
		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	19
	Some will stay	29
	Lots of them will stay	50
	Don't Know	2
	No answer	0
		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	52
	Not an Important Lesson	39
	Don't Know	7
	No answer	2
		100
Now I�d like to ask you some questions about the Trailer Parks that have been set up for Hurricane evacuees.
How close do you live to the nearest trailer park?� Please stop me when I get to the best answer:
�	�
	Next door	3
	Within a few blocks	4
	Within about a half mile	3
	Within about a mile	7
	More than a mile	70
	Don't Know	14
	No answer	0
		100
�
Do you know the name of the nearest trailer park?� What is it?
�	�
	Yes	14
	No, don't know the name	80
	Don't Know	7
	No answer	0
		100
�
[If within a half mile] How do you feel about the trailer park being placed near your neighborhood.� Do you:��
[If further than a half mile, or dk/na] How would you feel if it was announced that a trailer park was going to be placed near your neighborhood - say within a half mile.� Would you:
�	�
	Not mind at all	27
	Mind a little it	30
	Mind a lot	38
	Don't Know	4
	No answer	0
		100
[If within a half mile] Since the trailer park was placed near your neighborhood, have you done any of the following because of the trailer park?
[If further than a half mile, or dk/na] If a trailer park was placed near your neighborhood, would you do any of the following because of the trailer park?
	�	Yes	Would think about doing it	No	Don't Know	No answer
	Change Driving Routes	24	11	59	5	1	100
	Not Walk Alone	44	8	43	3	2	100
	Install Locks, Alarms or Lights	42	10	45	3	1	100
	Put Off Home Improvements	18	8	68	4	2	100
	Move or Sell	18	10	67	3	2	100
	Obtain Weapon	25	9	61	3	1	100
[If within a half mile] Since the trailer park was placed near your neighborhood, do you think any of the following has become a problem for your neighborhood?
[If further than a half mile, or dk/na] If a trailer park was placed near your neighborhood, do you think any of the following would be a problem for your neighborhood?
		Yes	Yes, Just a little	No	Don't Know	No answer
	Traffic Increase	71	12	13	3	1	100
	Stores Crowded	70	14	12	3	1	100
	Trash And Litter	51	17	26	4	1	100
	Noise	48	17	30	4	1	100
	Crime	53	18	20	8	1	100
	Property Values Down	58	16	20	5	1	100
Do you see people from the trailer parks in your neighborhood, say on the street or in stores?� About how often?
�	�
	Yes, Almost every day or more	8
	Yes, Sometimes	10
	Yes, but not often	8
	No, not as far as I know	61
	Don't Know	10
	No answer	3
		100
�
[If Yes (1-3)] Which of the following best describes what�s happened when you�ve seen them?
�	�
	I've gotten to know some of them	6
	I've talked a little, but haven't really gotten to know them	9
	I haven't had any contct with them	8
	I've had negative feelings like fear or conflict	2
	Don't Know	1
	No answer	0
	System	74
		100
If we had a disaster like Hurricane Katrina in Baton Rouge, and your home was destroyed, do you think you might end up living in a place like the trailer parks?
�	�
	Yes	31
	No	63
	Don't Know	6
	No answer	1
		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	19
	1	10
	2	11
	3	10
	4	5
	5	4
	6	1
	7	39
	Don't know	2
	Refused	0
		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	2
	1	13
	2	24
	3	18
	4	12
	5	8
	6	4
	7	2
	8	3
	9	0
	10	2
	11	1
	12	7
	Don't know	3
	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	28
	46-60	26
	61 and Over	17
	Missing	3
		100
[IF UNSURE ASK]: Are you male or female?
�	�
	Male	46
	Female	54
		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)	36
	Asian	2
	Hispanic	2
	Missing or Other	5
		100
Are your currently married, living with a partner, separated, divorced, widowed, or have you never been married?
�	�
	Married	52
	Living with partner	7
	Separated	3
	Divorced	9
	Widowed	6
	Single, never married	22
	Don't Know	0
	NA	1
		100
Do you have children?� How many?
�	�
	None	26
	One	18
	Two	28
	Three	15
	Four or more	10
	Other answer	1
	NA	1
		100
What is the highest grade of schooling that you have completed?
�	�
	8th Grade or less	2
	Some high school	5
	High School Diploma	19
	Vocational/Technical school	5
	Some College	24
	College degree	26
	Some graduate school	3
	Graduate degree	15
	NA	0
		100
What is your religious preference?� Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?
�	�
	Protestant	52
	Catholic	31
	Other	5
	None	9
	Don't Know	1
	NA	1
		100
Religious Fundamentalism [Previous question followed up by question about specific denomination.� Denominations categorized according to General Social Survey definitions]
�	�
	Liberal	20
	Moderate	37
	Fundamentalist	34
	Missing	10
		100
Are you a member of a local church, synagogue, or other religious or spiritual community?
�	�
	Yes	72
	No	28
	Don't Know	0
	Refused	1
		100
Not including weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
�	�
	Every week (or more often)	47
	Almost every week	13
	Once or twice a month	15
	A few times per year	10
	Less often than that	12
	Don't Know	1
	Refused	3
		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	21
	Democrat	18
	Lean Democratic	8
	Independent	8
	Lean Republican	6
	Republican	13
	Strong Republican	21
	Other	1
	None	5
		100
Who did you vote for in the 2004 Presidential election?
�	�
	George W. Bush	47
	John Kerry	31
	Someone else [Volunteered]	3
	Didn't vote	12
	Don't Know	3
	NA	5
		100
And who did you vote for in the 2004 Mayoral runoff election?
�	�
	Bobby Simpson	20
	Melvin L. 'Kip' Holden	50
	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	4
	Liberal	14
	Slightly Liberal	7
	Moderate, middle of the road	26
	Slightly Conservative	12
	Conservative	22
	Extremely Conservative	5
	Don't Know	7
	NA	2
		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 2005, from all sources.
�	�
	Under $15,000	9
	Under $25,000	9
	Under $35,000	9
	Under $50,000	14
	Under $75,000	16
	Under $100,000	10
	More than $100,000	17
	Don't Know	4
	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 February through March, 2006.� 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 1,008 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.