One of the best resources I've seen for emergency home power and preparedness in general is the info put out by a guy named Steven Harris. He has some free podcast interviews and also videos available for purchase that give detailed information on generators, fuel storage, inverters, battery banks, and more. I purchased his videos when he had a discount running (he often does; sign up for his email list if you're interested in the videos) and I recommend them for anyone looking for step-by-step instructions and tips for understanding and generating emergency power.
http://www.steven1234.com - all his stuff is here. The website design sucks, but the info is good.
Note: I am in no way affiliated with Mr. Harris and derive no benefit from posting this information