Having a home generator to provide backup power can be helpful, no matter where you live, but it’s downright essential if you reside in an area prone to extreme weather and frequent power outages.

Our best overall pick is the Westinghouse 4,500-watt inverter generator. It’s able to run up to 18 hours on a 3.4-gallon tank with dual fuel technology. With its low oil shutdown, fuel is conserved ...