Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine firing up a noisy, polluting generator to use a hair dryer or electric toothbrush or TV. Maybe if I had a deep freezer full of food. Maybe.

"...a hair dryer or electric toothbrush". Yeah, that's why people buy generators, to use their electric toothbrushes.

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine firing up a noisy, polluting generator to use a hair dryer or electric toothbrush or TV. Maybe if I had a deep freezer full of food. Maybe.

No, we did not fire it up just to run a hair dryer. Once it's running, you hook a bunch of things up. I had to go into work and look presentable, so why not take advantage of it. We were already running other appliances.

Keep it. We bought one a year ago after Irene, and used it for three days during the derecho. It was a godsend. I would have moved to Canada were it not for that thing. We kept a freezer full of food alive, ran a small air conditioner and a few fans. It is noisy, does pollute, and I'm sure my obnoxious neighbor would have hated it were she at home, but she'd gone to her summer place. This time, she's at home, so she will complain about the noise if I have to fire it up again. But I can't afford to lose all that expensive food if the power is out for more than two days, so I'll endure her wrath if need be. You don't know how this storm will go, OP, so hang onto the thing. Even for one day, it can help you keep your sanity. I was so close to losing it this summer, and, were it not for the generator, I would have!

I can't imagine firing up a noisy, polluting generator to use a hair dryer or electric toothbrush or TV. Maybe if I had a deep freezer full of food. Maybe.

Keep it. You may not need it now but its good to have. I would not run it for a day, but after day 2-3-4 I would.

Why wouldn't you wait to see if you lose power or not first? No way in hell I'd part with a generator right now. Even if you use it, you could still sell it afterwards. You will not have trouble finding a buyer even after the storm.
Note: We have one and lost power for 6 days with derecho. It was a gods send. We ran fridge, extra freezer, coffee maker, TV, hair dryer, toaster oven, and phone/iPad chargers.