Florida has not seen a major hurricane threat since 2005.
Photo Courtesy: MGN Online
The state of Florida has not seen landfall of a major hurricane for almost an entire decade.
According to a new Mason-Dixon poll, most Floridians do not believe there is a threat for a major hurricane in Florida this 2015 hurricane season.
A total of 800 Florida residents were used in the poll, those between the ages of 18-34 or “Millennials” stood out with their answers.
60 percent of Floridians polled said they think a hurricane is “not too likely” or “not likely at all” to hit Florida in 2015.
However, according to the poll, the opinion difference is based on age.
67 percent of millennials said that they do not believe there is a chance for a hurricane this season, while 42 percent of those polled over the age of 65 doubted chances for a hurricane in 2015.
The last year the state had major hurricanes such as: Katrina, Dennis, Rita and Wilma was in 2005.
Previously, the longest drought of a major hurricane in the state was 1980 to 1984.
Alex Cordero, a meteorologist for WTXL ABC 27, said there are several factors as to why there have not been major hurricanes for the past decade.
“The terrain of some of the Caribbean islands is detrimental to a hurricane as they need warm water” Cordero said. “They can tear up the circulation of a storm that has to travel through them.”
Cordero explained frontal systems carry the storms away from the coast, while dry air and wind shear kill the circulations of the storms that threaten.
Among millennials, the phenomenon of hurricanes being a major threat has subsided since their adolescent years.
21-year-old Alexandria Currie from Miami said hurricanes aren’t a big deal now because they’re so common.
“I think millennials don’t think they’re a threat,” Currie said. “When the last really bad ones hit we were too young to see how much they can negatively affect the community and everyday activities.”
The poll indicates that when it comes to natural disasters, specifically hurricanes, experience can make a difference in the level of awareness and being prepared.
24-year-old Leigh Cooper from Miami said she remembers when she was a younger, and recall her mother and grandmother preparing for major hurricanes.
“My mom would cut down the limbs and hedges from trees before storms so they don’t blow everywhere,” Cooper said. “My grandmother is older so she purchased a generator.”
Meteorologist Alex Cordero indicated there is no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to a hurricane, because other types of weather disasters can occur such as flooding and tornadoes.
The 2015 hurricane season officially began June 1st and will end November 30th.