Poll: Katrina Response Inadequate

Public Says Response To Katrina Too Slow; Confidence In Bush Drops

(CBS)  Some of those residents stranded after the storm were involved in looting and violence, and Americans divide over whether this was justified in light of their plight. 47 percent say there was no excuse for it under any circumstances; 41 percent say it was justified. The question asked about both looting and violence, and at least some respondents wanted to distinguish between the two. 8 percent volunteered that while they thought looting was justified in the circumstances, violence was not.

LOOKING AHEAD IN THE GULF REGION

Americans clearly want officials to focus on helping out in the region: the hurricane's aftermath has rocketed to the top of American's list of the most important problems now facing the country, alongside the war in Iraq.

U.S. MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM

Now
War in Iraq
18%
Hurricane
18%
Economy and jobs
13%
Gas/oil crisis
7%

8/29-31
War in Iraq
24%
Hurricane
5%
Economy and jobs
13%
Gas/oil crisis
14%

Americans are pitching in, too: 74 percent report they or their household has donated to the relief efforts.

Many people around the U.S. have direct, personal connections to the troubles in New Orleans and the gulf coast: 29 [percent say they have family or friends directly affected by the hurricane.

Americans overwhelmingly think New Orleans will be back as a working city again -- but that it will take some time for it to do so.

WILL NEW ORLEANS BE A WORKING CITY AGAIN?

Yes, within a year or two
17%
Yes, but will take longer than a year or two
72%
No, it never will
10%

For many, that will be a chance to return: 35 percent of Americans have visited New Orleans before.

But as for what they themselves have seen in the past week, Americans say the U.S. media has done an excellent or good job covering the story: 41 percent rate the coverage excellent, 36 percent rate it as good.

GAS PRICES AND TROOPS IN IRAQ

One concern after the hurricane has been its potential impact on the availability of gasoline. But while few Americans -- just 15 percent -- report having to wait in long lines to buy gas, that problem is reported much more frequently in the south, where 31 percent say they have had to wait.

Still, many would like to see more measures to halt potential price increases: most Americans do NOT think the Bush Administration has done enough to keep the price of gas from rising in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 71 percent say the Administration could have done more to keep the price of gas from going up. Just one in five think it has done all it could.

HAS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DONE ALL IT COULD TO KEEP THE
PRICE OF GAS FROM RISING AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA?

Yes
22%
No
71%

Americans continue to express a desire to see troop levels in Iraq at least lowered, if not withdrawn altogether, but these sentiments have not changed much since last week. Today, 33 percent of Americans want all troops removed and another 25 percent want levels lowered; last week 29 percent wanted all troops removed and 26 percent wanted levels decreased.

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This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 725 adults, interviewed by telephone September 6-7, 2005. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points.

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