In an effort to learn how insurance issues are perceived by residents in the Gulf Coast states hit by Hurricane Katrina, University of Southern Mississippi professor John Lambert has posted an online survey.

The survey, posted on the survey creating Web site www.surveymonkey.com, will remain online through Aug. 4.

“I’m trying to find out the perceptions people have about the homeowner’s insurance market today, roughly two years after Katrina. The perception of the client can be very influential in the marketplace,” said Lambert, an assistant professor of international business at USM’s Hattiesburg campus.

After calculating the results, Lambert said he will publicize the results in the media, complete a paper on the survey for academic publication and follow up with a survey on commercial property insurance.

He said the survey can help political leaders identify and focus on issues that should be addressed, tell consumers how they fared compared with others and reveal to those in the insurance industry how they are perceived.

On the Net:

Lambert’s Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?smYkzNeY48T13mxIwDBD2c3g—3d—3d