ROMEOVILLE, IL (May 03, 2005) - The official start of Hurricane Season is still a month away, but the rush for emergency supplies has already begun.
Electric Generators Direct.com, an online emergency generator superstore, is already experiencing stronger than usual demand for portable and standby generators.
 According to Jon Hoch, founder of the Romeoville, Ill.-based e-tailer, last year's quartet of Hurricanes severely altered the generator marketplace.
Manufacturers built enough inventory to weather Hurricane Charley. But when Hurricane Frances blew ashore, every remaining generator in the country evaporated.
Local hardware stores sold out in a matter of hours. Many desperate homeowners had no choice but to buy overpriced professional-grade generators with features they'd never use. And some customers waited up to four months to receive their backordered generator.
"By the time Ivan and Jean hit, it was impossible to find a reconditioned generator, let alone a new one," say Hoch.
The Calm Before the Storm
Climatologist William Gray recently revised his 2005 hurricane forecast, predicting 13 named tropical storms in the Atlantic, seven of which will become hurricanes, with three turning into major storms with winds clocking speed in excess of 111 miles per hour.
Generator manufacturers are working overtime to replenish their inventories. Many popular models are finally off backorder for the first time since last August.
According to Hoch, now is the best time to purchase an emergency generator in nearly a year.
"Generator prices are influenced by the simple economics of supply and demand," says Hoch. "The best time to buy is between power outages, when supplies are plentiful and promotions are prevalent."
Even reconditioned generators, which were impossible to find just a few months ago, are slowly becoming available. But don't expect the inventory to last long, warns Hoch.
Last year, millions of homeowners learned the importance of advanced emergency planning the hard way. This year, however, many homeowners aren't willing to wait for a tropical storm to develop before bracing for the worst.
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