By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Early predictions for the 2012 hurricane season call for a slower than normal year, with only 10 named storms, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes. This forecast, however, did very little to change the way residents of the River Parishes prepare for the upcoming storm season.

According to results of last week’s L’Observateur online poll, nearly half of those who voted said they would still prepare as normal in light of the early predictions. Another 22 percent said they don’t consider predictions prior to the season. Others said they would not be willing to change the way they prepare because predictions can always be wrong. Only 10 percent of those who responded said they are not as worried about the hurricane season.

A complete breakdown is as follows:

• 49 percent of respondents said, “No, I will still prepare as normal.”

• 10 percent of respondents said, “Yes, I’m not as worried.”

• 20 percent of respondents said, “No, because predictions can go wrong.”

• 22 percent of respondents said, “I never listen to predictions before the season.”