READER CHRIS ROHIFS WRITES: “Thanks for posting the generator link. We’ve been meaning to order one for a while, and I finally just did.”

Well, if you live in the potential Sandy-strike zone, you need to be buying now if you want one before it’s too late. If you live anywhere else where winter storms are an issue, it’s not a bad time.

UPDATE: Reader Glenn Howes writes: “A data point here. I ordered a 200 lb home backup generator from Amazon on Saturday Oct. 13, with free shipping, and it showed up in my driveway on Monday Oct. 22, so people might be warned to not delay or to pay for faster shipping, or even go to a store.” Currently, some are showing Friday delivery with one-day shipping, but as the storm news spreads, supplies will dry up.