If you live in the SF Bay Area, there's a terrific community-based training program offered by the San Francisco fire department called NERT. It is free and you learn how to prepare and deal with major disasters like earthquakes, fires, etc and how to develop a family plan, a list of things to have on hand, etc. Totally worth the time and hey, it's free! http://www.sf-fire.org/index.aspx?page=879

I was in Istanbul in 1999 when 7.3, 45 seconds long earthquake happened at 3 am in the morning, I do not know if anyone can really prepare for this kind of event other than having a survival kit around. I remember trying to get under the table, between the door etc... but when the earth moves with that magnitude all read information seem not enough to survive. The only thing I was grateful that my home was built taking into consideration of the earthquake zone. A lot of ppl died due to lack bldg support or living in tall buildings (8/9 floors) where only 3 story should have been allowed.

I remember when my friend came to stay with me ( I live in LA) and I told him where he could find the flash light, and what to do in case of an earthquake, and he found it very odd. But its a fact of life, and something one must be aware of if you live in an earthquake prone area.

Remember to also prepare for the emergency you don't expect. The unexpected does happen.

My thoughts are with the Kiwis on this morning and wish them a speedy recovery as they rebuild their homes and city.

Granted this is in the Los Angeles section, but I recommend that everyone look into your local area's emergency information network. (For example, I live in Arizona & we can get real time updates via azein.gov & tips for preparedness on justincasearizona.com.)

Everyone stay safe out there!

Not to get all churchy on here or anything, but the LDS church (mormons) which I happen to belong to has been practicing and teaching Emergency Preparedness for decades and they have a lot of good material and resources available, some of which is located on their main website.

Another thing that I have always found awesome that the LDS church does on a local level is organize an emergency plan based on meeting time boundaries in neighborhoods and cities, and they include all houses in those boundaries LDS occupied or not. And every boundary has an emergency preparedness expert in it. With it's millions of members all over the world you may just be on an LDS emergency map and not even know it. You could always check into your local LDS chapel (which you can locate on the site) and see what their plan is and how you could contribute etc. They also locally have events and activities which are to help with building food storage etc. It is always easier to pull together resources and prepare as a neighborhood and community.

I got to see first hand as a kid how the LDS local emergency plans work when our city in California flooded and the men (my father included) went door to door to those on the map lending assistance if needed.

Sorry, one more thing. The LDS church also has Home Storage Centers across the country and world where you can buy food storage items. The members volunteer to work at these facilities and can goods for global and local relief efforts. You can find a list of centers Here along with an order form so that you can see what they have. You do have to pick the items up in person though. And here is a link to their food storage calculator. Thanks! Just had to share.

I have read up on the LDS emergency preparedness plans and have put several into practice. Their advice is sound and simple. I highly recommend it (and I'm the least churchy person I know). Good information is invaluable.

I don't plan for earthquakes here in Wisconsin, but rather tailor the plans to blizzards, floods, and tornadoes.

I live in an earthquake zone where we can expect a biggie anytime and news of quakes in the world make me darn nervous. I'm semi-prepared and I definitely keep a pair of sturdy boots by my bedside in case it hits in the night.

I'm in christchurch, and my friend is dead.
Before you worry abot the easier fixes, emergency kits, securing shelves, etc, remember this:
None of that matters if your building collapses. Which sounds like the kind of thing that happens in crappy countries, but we are a developed country, and this city is toast.

Our city had a major quake in September, with no deaths. After that warning shot, the buildings deemed unsafe were not occupied this time, if they hadn't been pulled down already.
This month's "quake" was just a very very shallow and close aftershock, 6 months later.

My friend died beneath a building which had been deemed safe, along with all the other central city buidings which are now dust. The two large buildings covering hundreds of our dead and unreachable dying are relatively modern. Most of our buildings built after 1931 were built with EQ safety in mind. It wasn't enough.
So please be very wary where you choose to spend your time living and working. If you can pay more to live somewhere that is safer, definitely go for it. While I was typing this there were three aftershocks, it's bloody terrifying.

Thistly, thank you for the advice and the information. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones. *HUGS*

Thistly- My heart and thoughts go out to you and I in no way want to disagree with someone living a tragedy, but I do want to say that I think a benefit and blessing to being prepared with emergency kits and food etc is the priceless ability to be able to help others in need. My thoughts are to prepare myself and pray my neighbors prepare too. So that way if arms are reached out to me to help I can, and if I need to reach out hopefully they have done the same.

Wish you and your city well.

thistly: thank you so much for the on-the-scene update. i've hosted some kiwis here in new orleans, and i also know what it means to have a city that's toast. condolences on your losses (especially your friend & the others who died in the quake), and strength to you in the days & weeks ahead. completely agree with Jillofalltrades, though, that it's not always about saving our own butts, but about helping someone else save theirs.

best of luck.

I am from Chile and the earthquake of February 27, 2010 was great this month 8.8 and yet another earthquake 7. We have learned that the most important thing is to stay calm, tranquility, have water, batteries, a radio, flashlights, dehydrated soups, flour, merchandise, cards to play: D and cash.

Greetings from Chile that are still earthquakes.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terremoto_de_Chile_de_2010

p.d.: disculpen mi inglés.sorry!

Cheers guys, sorry I didn't mean to try and sound like emergency kits etc aren't also important. Apart from the obvious first aid, torches, food and water, the things I would try and remember for next time is to keep people's phone numbers -outside- my mobile (dead battery), to keep an old corded phone that doesn't need electricity, and that bicycles and motorcycles are extremely useful as the roads were all blocked by people in cars who didn't -need- to be in cars (just to get around, not to transport their whole family or their salvaged property). There were so many cars that some ambulances couldn't get through.

After the quake 6 months ago many people had bought these excellent, hand cranked devices, with a radio, torch, headlamp, and multiple port charger for phones, etc. They only cost about 15 USD from either camping stores or emergency depts.
It's not excessive to have two kits or even more, lots of people couldn't get into their garages as the quake warped their garage doors, their homes were unsafe or their cars unreachable.
Also, I'm never living in a brick building again, even under a brick chimney if I can help it! Stupid bricks don't belong on a faultline no matter how homesick for England your city's founders were :p

Lastly, It would also be nice to get a gun license and a high powered hunting rifle, to blow the brains out of the scum that are robbing the evacuated houses and businesses - I think ww2 folks had the right idea, to shoot on sight.
There were two teenagers here whos image was repeatedly shown on the news, holding an anguished vigil for their trapped mother, who didn't make it out, and somebody saw the opportunity to rob their home while they were there. Talk about disgusting.

It has been so so amazing to get such support from overseas, NZ is a little tiny country and it's not often we feel this significant <3

Most people were trapped at work not at home in the Christchurch quake. Work places in earthquake zones also need a game plan.
Thoughts are with those in New Zealand.