Size from the list, not from fear. The standard Saint Cloud storm list is refrigeration, lights and connectivity, a water source where a well or booster is fitted, medical devices where present, and cooling for one room or the air handler if the electrical system honestly supports it. A portable unit with a properly installed inlet and interlock covers that list for most homes. Whole house standby is a larger investment that pencils out for medical needs and long outage histories. What never pencils out is the improvised cord setup: it risks the household, the equipment, and the line crews working to restore the street.
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