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Storm & Power-Outage Backup for a Florida Home

If you're new to coastal Volusia, your first hurricane season is a wake-up call: the storm passes in a day, but the power can be out for three. After living here a while you learn the move is to be ready before the cone shows up, because the shelves are empty the second a storm has a name. Here's the backup gear I'd have on hand — but a few things to know before you buy any of it.

Before you buy a generator

Three things that matter before you spend on backup power.

Check your HOA or deed restrictions on generator placement and noise. Some coastal communities — especially condos and certain deed-restricted subdivisions — regulate where a unit can sit or whether a permanent one is allowed at all.
A standby (whole-house) generator usually needs a permit and licensed installation in Volusia. Budget for the permit and inspection timeline, not just the equipment, if you're going that route instead of portable.
Never backfeed your house without a proper transfer switch. A generator wired straight into an outlet or panel without one can energize the lines utility crews are working on, and it's a real cause of denied claims and house fires. A licensed electrician and a transfer switch is the safe way to do it.

With that covered, here's the backup gear that's actually worth having.

Portable power stations — quiet, indoor-safe backup

A power station is a big battery you charge ahead of the storm. No fumes, no noise — run it inside to keep phones, a fan, CPAP, and the router going. This is where most homeowners should start.

A mid-size portable power station — the popular middle-ground, runs phones, fans, a CPAP, and small appliances for a day or two on a charge.
A larger, fast-recharging power station — expandable, steps up to running a full-size fridge in short stretches.
A portable solar panel — recharges the power station from the sun when the grid's down for days. The part people forget to buy.

Generators — when you need to run the whole house

For a multi-day outage with the AC or a big fridge, you need a real generator. Run it outside, well away from windows — carbon monoxide is the real danger here, not the storm.

A dual-fuel generator (gas or propane) — powers most of a house through an outage, the workhorse choice for Florida.
A smaller inverter generator — quiet and light if you just need the essentials: fridge, fans, lights, devices.
A battery carbon-monoxide alarm — non-negotiable if you run a generator. Never start one in a garage or near an open window without one.

The essentials kit — light, air, and information

Whatever else you have, these are the small things that make a powerless Florida night bearable when it's 85 degrees inside.

Rechargeable LED lanterns — brighter and safer than candles, charge them before the storm and they last for nights.
A battery-powered clip fan — moving air is the difference between sleeping and not sleeping when the AC's off.
A high-capacity portable phone charger — keeps phones alive for days, your lifeline for storm updates and reaching family.
A hand-crank/solar NOAA weather radio — gets you real storm updates when cell towers and Wi-Fi are down.

Thinking about buying or selling in coastal Volusia? That's my home turf. Get a free, no-obligation home value report → or reach me directly at 386-631-5107.

Frequently asked questions

Power station or generator — which do I need in Florida?
Both serve different jobs. A power station is quiet, fume-free, and safe indoors — perfect for phones, fans, a CPAP, and the router. A generator is louder and runs outside only, but it's the only way to power a full fridge or AC through a multi-day outage. Many coastal homeowners keep a power station for convenience and a generator for the long outages.

Is it safe to run a generator during a hurricane?
Only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, never in a garage or near windows — carbon monoxide from generators kills people after storms every year. Always pair one with a battery CO alarm inside. Keep it dry and elevated, and never refuel it while it's running.

How much backup power do I actually need?
Add up what you truly need running at once. Phones, a couple of fans, lights, and a router might total a few hundred watts — a 1,000Wh power station covers that for a day-plus. A full-size refrigerator needs a generator. Start with your must-haves, not the whole house.

Keep going

General information only, not professional advice. Robert Kirkland is a licensed Florida real estate sales associate (License #SL3498393) with Simply Real Estate, serving coastal Volusia County.