AAA survey shows Floridians are reluctant to evacuate during COVID-19

As Hurricane Irma bore down on Florida, the ActionNewsJax team has worked hard to make sure everyone in the community has the news they need to stay safe.

Nobody said reporting during a hurricane -- even during its early ours -- would be easy.

Crews at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay take precautions for the animals before Hurricane Irma hit the west coast of Florida.

A viewer sent Danielle Avitable this picture via Twitter of a tree down on Pirates Wood in Yulee.

 

Ashley Hollander retweeted this photo, noting that only several weeks ago Houston was hit by Hurricane Harvey. Now the people of Houston are standing with Florida as Hurricane Irma bears down.

 

 

Erica Bennett finds comfort in knowing that come high winds or high water, the Waffle House in Jacksonville Beach will remain open.

 

Bridges along the coast were closed as soon as sustained winds reach 40 mph.

Lorena Inclan provided this shot of impassible roads in St. Augustine.

 

Orlando, Fla. — Given the choice to stay at home and risk a hurricane or be at risk of COVID-19 - many Floridians say they will consider staying home.

Forty two percent of Floridians surveyed by AAA said that they are less likely to evacuate for a storm this year over fears of contracting the new coronavirus.

In fact, 29% said they would not leave their homes if they were warned to evacuate, but that number decreased with the intensity of the storm.

Eighty percent said they would leave for a Category 2 hurricane or greater.

A third of those questioned did tell pollsters they are more concerned about hurricanes this season than they were last year, but the survey showed more than half (52%) of residents do not have an emergency plan.

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