Really torn on this one. Having been through a few hurricanes in my time, there is nothing like hoping/wishing for some cool air and cold beers via generator-powered cooling sources. The underside is what you mention: everyone hears the generator and starts heading your way.
I think it was the Bosnia survivor that wrote of his experiences that if he had it to do over again that he would have rather had 1000 cigarette lighters than one generator when he went through his year and a half or so ordeal.
Bosnia is very different from my neighborhood. Not as much vodka and blini here. More chorizo and Dos Equis.
But I'm good with vodka and blinis, too, if someone wants to bring some. I even know some Russian drinking songs.
/johnny
We have several generators but we’ve never used any of them for a power outage, believe it or not we just don’t think about it. Around here it goes out for a few minutes up to 3 or 4 hours but I guess we’re optimists and just keep thinking it will come back on soon.
I keep bottled water for those occasions and enough water in jugs in the house for a few flushes but we have never had it go out over about 6 hours.