By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The region is just over a week into hurricane season, and the threat of a storm entering the Gulf of Mexico may still be weeks away, but authorities on both the state and national levels have since Katrina devastated the area in 2005 been touting the importance of early preparation. Numerous checklists have been compiled and the consensus is that being prepared for the possibility of a storm can save time, headaches and even lives when an emergency arises.

Accordingly, last week L’Observateur asked its readers which, if any, storm season preparations they had already completed. The results showed a wide disparity.

Nearly half of respondents said they had not yet made any of the preparations listed. On the other hand, one-fifth of respondents said they had already made all preparations for storm season.

Regarding the individual preparations, the most popular choice was “I have bought a generator in case of a power failure.”

Of all the lessons learned during last few times a storm hit the area, the most lasting was probably that even a glancing blow can leave an area without power for extended periods of time.

What’s more, many of the problems associated with a lack of electricity can be avoided with the purchase of a generator. And the state sweetened the deal by offering tax breaks on the purchase of generators.

Other individual preparations fared worse, with the other four choices garnering just 16 percent of the vote.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 20 percent of respondents chose “I have bought a generator in case of a power failure.”

• 4 percent of respondents chose “I have made hurricane survival kits.”

• 2 percent of respondents chose “I have planned out evacuation routes.”

• 4 percent of respondents chose “I have filled bottles with water and have them in my freezer.”

• 6 percent of respondents chose “I have put some money aside for gas, lodging and food during evacuations.”

• 20 percent of respondents chose “All of the above.”

• 44 percent of respondents chose “None of the above.”

Look for a special hurricane season insert including a tracking map and checklist in the Wednesday, June 16, edition of L’Observateur.