Gasoline evaporation builds pressure when temps climb and you need metal containers able to withstand the pressure to prevent venting.
Commonly available plastic containers aren't strong enough though I'm not too sure about commercial 55 gallon plastic drums. I have no experience with these but they do seem to be pretty well put together and the bungs seem to be pretty strong.
I highly recommend having at least empty containers on hand. Having been through at least a half dozen power out conditions from both hurricane and ice storms, I find fuel containers are some of the first items to disappear from shelves.
What I do, is I fill 'em at the first signs of trouble knowing I have an airplane with over 60 gallons of 100LL just a few miles away. :)
I lost power during hurricane Isaac a month ago, but only for three days. I only used my little Honda 2K generator which doesn't use much fuel and I still have 4 six gallon cans of gasoline that I need to use up.
Been using that in my motorcycle and ATV mostly. The motorcycle is a KLR that gets 65 mpg so it's taking awhile to use it up. Guess I need to fire up the Harley instead and do some cruzin'... ;)
What is your opinion on the float bowls on bikes/generators filled or not issue?
I generally keep mine filled (have through 30+ years, with never more than a partially clogged jet that cleaned itself quickly with no fuel. And that includes pre-stabilizer years).
If the bowl is not filled there is a greater chance the float valve o-ring will dry out.
But OTOH, I bought a used KE100 last February and the pilot jet clogged a month later with brand new non-ethanol gas!
I have an ‘82 XL250 with 2 year old old STABILized gas I need to change out this week or next. That is the one that starts up a little balky and needs extra choke until the pilot cleans out.