Shoes are an issue. I choose shoes I can wear all day, but walking home after the Big One would be daunting. I should carry blister pads anyway as I do sometimes need them in non-emergency situations.

TheSock mentioned maps. That's something I haven't considered. I have maps in the EK, but not in my pocket. I do tend to explore rather than always driving the same route from A to B, so I know my way around pretty well. Still, a map would be nice. Trouble is a map with any detail would be too big to EDC. That might be one of the things I buy when needed.

Sue is right, I can't be fully prepared. It is a matter of balancing risks and rewards. I like where I live, so I do what I can to be prepared and hope I have some luck when the Big One happens. For sure transportation will be a nightmare for days or even weeks afterwards. If I'm near home I most likely will be ok.

One thing I need to think more about is "living off the land" so to speak. As scafool points out, at least in the immediate aftermath there will be lots of resources available. Having a pre-planned "shopping list" might be a good idea. That I can EDC.

"...Having a pre-planned "shopping list" might be a good idea..."

Keep in mind that in times like those, badguys go "shopping" too, so you might have to be badder then they are...

Good call.

You gotta be first in line too or you are not getting the things on top your list that EVERYONE will want.

Why not buy your items now? (Not you OBG)

If you are going to "live off the land" in the aftermath of an urban instant disaster, what is on your shopping list?

Shelter: garbage bags are good and readily available.
Water: bottled water also readily available in the immediate aftermath. Not so much even a few hours later.
Food: Jerky, power bars, candy bars are also available in the immediate aftermath and won't last long.
Maps are surprisingly hard to find, at least in my experience.
Baby wipes are good for hygiene. Sunscreen, bug juice, lip balm.

A second pair of shoes and/or clothes in a gym bag won't be out of place as many people change and go to the gym before or after work.

Have a PDA/Phone/PDAhone? I store electronic maps on mine as well as my handheld gps fits in my laptop bag during the week, it runs on a set of eneloop AA's so its always ready and I've ran over 16 hours on one set so far.

Also for those who have maps, keep them up to date. Earlier this afternoon, I had to go a business office and did the google map and paper map check. Both maps look the same so I printed the Google map as it has directions and off I go.

I get close, oh so close to where I need to be....but the roads have changed. I can see the building I need to get on the other side of a divided highway. Sizing up the traffic screaming by at maniacal speeds, there is no way I was going to park the car then make a mad run across that highway....no matter how good of shape I am in.

Pulled over then looked at the Google map I printed with directions on it and the paper map I always carry and double checked, yes once again they are the same, but the paper map is from 2007.

Long story short, I finally get to where I need to go after 10 minutes of no left turns allowed here, no right turns allowed here etc.

On the way home, I had to stop for gas anyway so I picked up a new map and....lo and behold, it shows the new changes and several others closer to home that I was not aware of.

Had this been in a more difficult situation, having outdated maps would of only added to the complications....

Have you thought about an EDC for when you shower? I'd imagine storing an EDC for in-shower use might have logistical complexities, but there's a time and place where you really don't have many (practical) places to store an EDC kit.

I wouldn't plan on driving home, even if your car survives the initial quake damage. The next time you commute, count the number of overpasses, underpasses, culverts, etc. that you pass. Then consider the likelihood of pavement breaks, collapses and upheavals, abandoned cars, debris in roadways, etc, that is likely to occur.

Is it possible possible for you to stash a cheap, used mountain bike at work, and use that to get home? Is there a friend's or co-worker's home nearby, and would they allow you to store a few essentials and stay there if necessary? Maybe you could pitch your employer to allow you to develop a Company Emergency Preparedness Plan, so you could make better arrangements for not only yourself but the whole team?

Jeff

Yup, and you might want them work gloves to be rubber too. You never know what you might have to handle.