Study Methods and General Findings

Abstract

The sample was intentionally limited to 166 South Florida postal codes likely to experience either tidal or storm surge flooding. Qualtrics administered an internet-based survey from October through December of 2018 to approximately 1000 individuals. One-half of the sample also received a map of a part of their own city or county showing floodwater depth associated with a Category 3 hurricane in 2033 from the FloodIQ.com website. Analysis of the results shows that, in general, the respondents believe that the climate is changing and that it is human activity that is driving this pace of climate change. However, most do not believe that their own homes are at risk or that their property values will fall as a result of sea-level rise. Respondents on the Gulf Coast gave similar responses to those on the Atlantic coast, although Gulf Coast respondents are less anxious about sea-level rise or the vulnerability of their own home.