I live on the Gulf Coast. Running a portable generator is not cheap. When prepping for a hurricane, I need to buy 100+ gallons of gasoline to last for 5 days, plus a case of oil. The last hurricane headed our way, turned away from us. Hurrah, but now I have 100 gals. of gas to store & use. That’s dangerous & as gas doesn’t store well or long - it attracts moisture - I have to use it soon.
Running the generator can be dangerous, too. Rain can continue long after the storm has passed. You can’t run it in the rain without a well ventilated shed or shelter well away from the house (carbon monoxide exhaust). Running extension cords all over the house for refrig., lights, fans, maybe TV is problematic. Messing with the cords while hot can be a shocking experience. I’d hate to have small children around all this stuff.
Finally, a large portable generator weighs several hundred pounds. Getting it to/from the service center is a chore.
PS Chain your generator to something if you want to keep it.
That's why you need a generator you can hook directly to your power panel with a single cutout switch. No extension cords. My generator weighs 1,100 lbs and sits on a slab. If they come for mine, they better bring a fork lift. It also has a service interval of 500 hours. Consequently, it doesn't need service that often. But, when it does, it's no harder than changing the oil and filter in a car.