JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One in four Floridians would ignore hurricane evacuation warnings, according to a new AAA survey.
Hurricane season starts Saturday and forecasters predict it could be one of the busiest on record.
Preparation is key during hurricane season, which includes knowing your evacuation route.
MORE: Download & Save The Weather Authority’s Hurricane Survival Guide
But most people also say they would only evacuate for a Category 3 storm or stronger.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters predict this Atlantic hurricane season will be above average.
They say unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina are factors.
A new AAA survey says a quarter of people living in Florida would not evacuate if a hurricane was approaching.
The top reasons include people wanting to stay and fix any damage to their home or property, belief that a storm would turn away from their direction and that they would not know where to go.
Additional reasons are financial circumstances, as some people say they would not be able to afford to leave. They would not be able to bring their pets with them, and Floridians having a fear of people looting after a storm.
The AAA survey also says 64% of people living in Florida do not have flood insurance.
Their reasons include, not living in a flood zone, never having flood problems in the past, people saying insurance is too expensive, and belief the homeowner’s insurance they have should be enough.
Flooding caused $7 billion in damage nationwide during the last hurricane season.