A study released by SURP's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (CUES) found that the vast majority of counties in the Florida Panhandle were less prepared for emergency evacuation compared to the rest of the state. Of the 67 counties in Florida, 10 were rated as having weak levels of evacuation preparedness, and all of these counties were located in the Panhandle/North Florida. Eleven of 16 counties with moderately rated plans also were in this region. Only seven of the counties in the Panhandle had strong plans.

Multiple news outlets featured the research, including

a report by National Public Radio (NPR)’s Science Desk reporter Rebecca Hersher wav="/departments/urban-regional-planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/npr-science-desk-features-research-by-john-renne/audio/wav/20181012_newscast_0501.wav" Rebecca   Hersher  is a reporter on NPR’s Science Desk, where she reports on outbreaks, natural disasters, and environmental and health research. Since coming to NPR in 2011, she has covered the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, embedded with the Afghan army after the American combat mission ended, and reported on floods and hurricanes in the U.S. She’s also reported on research about puppies.