Gasoline inverter generator is what I rely on when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Solar’s great until you’re socked in by storms or heavy smoke from wildfires, then it’s pretty much useless. The inverter style is quieter and easier on electronics, but you do have to stay on top of fuel rotation and maintenance. I keep enough treated gas for at least a week, plus a manual siphon and stabilized fuel stored outside the house just in case.
I’ve looked into propane generators too since propane stores longer and is safer, but refilling tanks during emergencies isn’t always practical in my area. If you’re somewhere rural, a bigger buried tank could work. For little things (phones, lights), I use those portable battery banks—hand crank radios too, but wouldn’t want to rely on those for anything major.
Honestly, redundancy feels like
