JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An AAA survey released Monday -- the first day of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season -- finds that 42 percent of Florida and Georgia residents do not make advanced preparations for tropical weather.



Colorado State University predicts a below-average hurricane season with seven named storms, three hurricanes, and one major hurricane this year. But even if a named storm caused evacuation warnings, 18 percent of residents say they would not leave their homes. Of those who would evacuate, 49 percent say they would only leave for a category three hurricane or greater.

"People here probably don't take them seriously because we just get tropical storms and we get flooding and stuff like that," said Gloria White, who recently moved to Jacksonville from south Florida. "They haven't really experienced an Andrew or a Katrina and, like I said, both of them really affected me."

AAA is concerned that so many residents have not made any preparations for the tropical season.

"Residents should stay vigilant and be prepared for a major weather event," said Gene Calkins, vice president of AAA Insurance Agency. "Part of that preparation includes having a storm kit, evacuation plan, and proper insurance coverage, which includes flood insurance. Every home is in a flood zone, whether you live near the coast or not."



Floods are the No. 1 disaster in the United States. Homes in low risk zones account for nearly 20 percent of flood claims every year. Just two inches of water in a 2,000 square foot home, can cause as much as $21,000 or more in damage. However, only one in five residents in Florida and Georgia have flood insurance, which is separate from homeowners insurance. A preferred risk flood insurance policy costing 85 cents a day will cover $100,000 in structural damage and $40,000 for damage to contents inside the home.



"The majority of residents in the southern U.S. do not know there is normally a 30-day waiting period for a new flood policy to take effect," Calkins said. "If you wait until a storm is named and heading your direction, you will be too late. Now is a great time to check with your insurance agent to ensure you are covered before the busy storm season begins."



AAA offers these hurricane preparation tips:

