Residents along the South Carolina coast are getting a survey in the mail this week, a research survey asking how they make plans to evacuate if there is a hurricane.
The survey is being conducted by geographers from the University of South Carolina, planners at the state Emergency Management Division and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Residents in Jasper, Beaufort, Colleton, Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties are receiving the questionnaire.
Carissa Medeiros, with Horry County Emergency Management, says it could be six months before they will begin reviewing and using the data.
"We're waiting on the data to figure out how we're going to use it locally," says Medeiros.
She also notes the behavioral analysis is only one part of local evacuation puzzle. "This is a small part of the big picture," Medeiros says.
The information in this survey will be presented to a planning committee along with data from other studies on evacuation plans and procedures, evacuation routes and evacuation zones.
Susan Cutter is the director of USC's Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute. Cutter says better understanding people's behavior before a storm is critical to emergency planners.
The surveys should be in mailboxes early this week. A pre-addressed and stamped return envelope is included so the surveys can easily be returned.
The AP contributed to this report.
Have you ever had to evacuate from your home? What did you do? Where did you go? Leave your answers in the comment section below.
