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For the last couple weeks, I've been assembling supplies for our home disaster preparedness kit. I've never had such a kit before, and I now realize that I was pushing my luck by doing so. Earthquakes are the most eminent threat in the San Francisco Bay Area: they occur with little or no warning, they destroy structures and interrupt public services over a wide area, and can play havoc with the construction techniques employed in many parts of the Bay Area (liquefaction is a major risk in the Alameda area where parts of the Bay were reclaimed using fill). Other disasters can occur, of course, but few are as likely and hazardous as earthquakes.

Before purchasing items for the kit, I performed a lot of research on-line. This was a good idea since it made me aware of issues I would have otherwise ignored. I made a lot of purchases through on-line retailers like Amazon.com to keep the cost of the kit low. Here is a list of considerations that I found interesting:

• Water service may be disrupted or unsafe, so it won't be possible to rinse off plates and eating utensils. Instead, keep some paper plates, plastic cups (red party cups!), and plastic utensils in the kit. They can be used and disposed of without using water.
• Earthquakes can occur in any weather, so prepare for the worst weather in your area. Your home may be uninhabitable, so that could mean being kept outside in rain or extreme heat. Include rain ponchos and sunscreen in the kit to address these possibilities.
• Because an earthquake doesn't wait for you to get home, you should include some basic supplies in your car and/or at work. This has been referred to as a "car-kit" or "go-bag", and should consist of:
  
  
  • battery-powered radio
  
  
  • flashlight
  
  
  • batteries for both
  
  
  • pocket knife
  
  
  • dust masks
  
  
  • some food & water
  
  
  • maps of the local area
  
  
  • heavy gloves
  
  
  • rescue blanket
  
  
  • rain poncho
  
  
  
  
• Include food and a leash for your dog or cat since they'll need to get through the ordeal, too
• Store as much cash as you might take out for a long weekend. ATMs and card readers don't function well without power, so having cash will put you at an advantage.

I've found some excellent resources on the web for assembling a disaster kit:

• San Francisco Office of Emergency Services - 72hour.org


• U.S. Geologic Survey - Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country


• Homeland Security - Ready.gov

Also, here are some blogs addressing the need for a disaster kit:

• "Of Earthquakes and Disaster Planning"


• "If the House is A-Rockin'"

I find it disturbing that so many government agencies - local and federal - have put so much effort into creating websites that target those with access to a computer and the Internet. I can't say I've seen any of the information available on the FEMA website elsewhere. People without access to this information in advance will be the most devastated from a disaster. I think this information should be more widely disseminated, perhaps by mail or some other widespread channel.