[Robert Coats]

Zeta just blew through the ATL and here in Mariettta, GA we are going on 30 hours now sans power. After loading up 3 five gallon fuel cans, I found an open station and filled them all, then yanked my 3000 watt portable generator out and under our deck, strung all the extension cords I could find, and soon had the fridge, TV, laptops/chargers, etc. up and running. Our cable-based broadband came online overnight, so I can share this message with you.

Having recently retired from the generator part of American Honda, I can tell you from my many customer interactions that a basic 2000-3000 watt portable will do a great job for most homes. It will easily run the basics, as long as you thing of it as 'indoor camping' and understand not every single device is going to get power. Learn to 'load share', i.e., if you need to do laundry, unplug the fridge and plug in the washer. If you have gas heat, it's not too hard to wire up a special plug to run the 120v blower motor. On the other end of the thermometer, consider buying a small window AC unit for use in the bedroom; it will keep you cool enough to sleep at night, and many will easily run on a small generator.

Best of all, a 2k-3k inverter-style generator (Honda and Yamaha make really high quality products), extension cords, fuel cans, etc. will run you $2,100~$3,500, far less than the five-figures it would cost for for a whole-house unit. Oh yeah, the cheaper portables are, well, portable. Nice if your house is doing okay, but a neighbor or nearby family member is dead in the water.

New model Hondas even have an smartphone/Bluetooth App that can report output levels, fuel remaining, etc.

Don't be an idiot and use the stupid f*cking suicide cord. If you are a single hermit, with no family, okay, fine. But if you have a wife, kids, etc. that have 'watched daddy hook up the generator' and now try and do it without you, you are asking for tragedy.

I'll guess most of the people reading this understand the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust, and will be sure to only place a running generator in an outdoor location.