FDU PublicMind - October 1, 2003 Release

NJ Households Still Not Making
Emergency Plans

New Jerseyans are no better prepared for the event of another terrorist attack than they were six months ago. According to the most recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind, two-thirds (67%) of Garden Staters and their families have not made any emergency plans, such as stocking up on food and water or mapping an escape route in case a terrorist attack were to take place in their area. A PublicMind poll in April of this year showed a similar result.

At the same time, confidence that the federal and state governments are doing everything they can to prevent another attack has fallen. Only half say the federal government is doing everything it can to prevent another attack, down from nearly two-thirds last April. Confidence in state efforts faired a little better: 47% said the New Jersey state government is doing all it can to prevent another terrorist attack, down slightly from 53% last April. "The shift of confidence in the federal government's abilities may well reflect a decline in support for President Bush as well as anxiety over difficulties in Iraq and reports of lapses in federal security agencies," said Dr. Peter Woolley, Executive Director of PublicMind.

Still, 44% say they are very or somewhat worried about becoming a victim of terrorist attack, a number similar to the 40% who said they were very or somewhat worried six months ago. A majority still say they are not too worried or not at all worried. South Jerseyans are more likely to say they are "not at all worried" about being a victim of an attack. Those who live in the north east and urban core of New Jersey are more likely to say they are "very worried."

Women are more likely than men (38-27%) to have made emergency plans. Men claim to be less worried about terror attacks and give higher marks than women to the federal government's efforts to prevent further attacks.

The PublicMind poll of 810 registered voters was conducted from September 24 through September 30 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Poll Analysis

Contact: Peter Woolley 973.670.3239

Radio actuality line: (201) 692-2846.

For more information, please call (201) 692-7032.