The goal isn't running your whole house — it's covering the loads that matter (medical devices, refrigeration, communication, some lighting) when the grid is down.
Solar: A small panel + charge controller + battery bank can keep phones, radios, and small electronics running indefinitely with sun. Sizing matters — undersized panels trickle-charge too slowly to keep pace with real usage. Battery capacity (measured in watt-hours) should be sized against your actual daily draw, not guessed.
Batteries: A charged power station or deep-cycle battery bank is your bridge for the first 24-72 hours before any generation catches up. Keep them charged year-round — a "prep" battery that's dead when needed is a decoration.
Generators: Fast, high-output, but fuel-dependent and loud (both an OPSEC and a neighbor-relations issue). Never run one indoors or in an attached garage — carbon monoxide from generator exhaust is a leading cause of death in extended power outages. Store fuel safely and rotate it; gasoline degrades in storage within months unless treated with stabilizer.
Priority load list: Decide in advance what actually needs power (medical equipment, a fridge for insulin, a radio) versus what's convenience (TV, full lighting). Building this list before an outage — not during one — is what makes limited power actually last.