re: Generators for the impending storm

I can't imagine why a house would have one installed if it wasn't initially built with a standby generator.

You would have to have one installed at the same time you have the generator installed if you want it. Look in your breaker panel and it should be very obvious if it does already have a transfer switch for secondary power input. It'll be a piece of plate over the main breaker that prevents you from having both the power line breaker and generator input breaker closed at the same time.