Public Attitudes toward Hazard Zone Controls

During the year following Hurricane Eloise (1975–76), residents of two northwest Florida cities affected by the storm were contacted three times to assess their attitudes toward restrictive land use policies designed to reduce damage from hurricanes. Public support immediately after the disaster was extremely high for coastal setback laws, flood oriented building codes, wind oriented building codes, and mobile home tie-down regulations; the support had increased six and twelve months later. Respondents preferred that such laws be enacted at the state rather than local level of government.