Summer storms = Power outage

Well so much for enjoying the first weekend in the new house.  Severe storms came through Friday night and the power was out until Sunday.  Had to throw out all of the food that was in the refrigerator, had the alarm go off and not be able to stop it because the keypad was dead, the ice left in the ice maker melted and left a pool of water on the kitchen floor, it was crazy!  It was a real learning experience, coming from our townhouse where the power was never off for more than 2 hours in the past 6 years of living there, I am now suddenly in the market for a generator.  Any tips?