I have a Honda Element -- a vehicle designed for sleeping in (either by reclining all four seats or taking the rear seats out). But it would be creepy and dangerous to sleep in a car in this city -- even parked in front of my house.

The most viable threats to homes in this city are, in this order: fire, terrorism (bio, nuke, dirty bomb), tornado, hurricane.

To protect from looting, I'd pull an all-nighter or two to protect my property and start removing the most valuable (and irreplaceable) items as quickly as possible. Possibly store it at unaffected friends' homes.

Truth is, other than my dog, photos and trip journals, the rest is just stuff.

If I could do life over -- I'd have a lot less stuff. Would gladly exchange a lot of it for a replacement-value insurance check.

We are lucky enough to have our 5th wheel RV stored off site at my shop. Our plan is to move out there short term. The RV will not make it onto our street due to grade changes and cul-de-sac turn around. If this was a single house fire, the city probably would invite you to leave. Massive, area wide tornado damage and who knows? I just hope my shop and home are far enough apart to prevent both from blowing away (several miles). If it gets them both, It will also grab my folk's home as well. That kind of damage would either be a freak damage pattern/path or a MONSTER of a twister.

I would probably get the family settled into the RV, then pull an all-night watch to prevent looting. Sunrise would start what recovery could be done before I called my grading/demolition contractor. Then time to build again.

I build those shelters. I have seen nothing about earthquake in any of the literature about them. I do know that I would be worried about the 16" thick concrete roof falling on my head if its structure was in any way compromised. Also, they are very small for the most part (usually 4'x8' inside). With my limited earthquake experience, I think there must be somewhere better to sleep. Now the shelters would make a good "vault" to keep your stuff until new sleeping/storage arrangements could be made.

I'd grab what I could salvage then head to a relative's or hotel while I wait for the insurance check. It's 5 degrees outside now, so I don't think I'd be hanging around to keep looters away from my smoke-damaged belongings. If they need them that bad, they can have them.

If I had to, yes. When our house burned up back in 94, we lost pretty much everything in it. I could've put up a canvas wall tent and a wood stove and a propane grill and lived in the backyard with my family for an extended period. However, the father-in-laws house was much more convenient and comfortable. There was nothing of value left when the fire extinguished. Had there been, and the structure sound enough to work in, I'd have removed anything of value either to friends' or relatives' homes, or else put it in storage.

Good point. I think a real answer from me is going to be highly condition specific.

-Who is with me at the time?
-How is everyone's health?
-Were supplies for sheltering in placed damaged or lost in the event?
-How far away are alternative living arrangements?
-How does weather complicate the issue? Extreme heat, ice, etc.
-Has martial law been declared due to the event?
-How widespread is the event? House fire (localized) or catastrophic flooding (widespread).

I'd hate to know how far we could drag out this list but you see where I'm going.

One of the things that can help for this type of situation is being organized. Have a place for all your stuff. I see so many people that have just stuff piled on top of stuff, be it magazines or crafts or knick knacks. I've tried for the last few years to think stuff out, no more $$$ paintings and wall hangings, we buy cheapo picture frames from doallr stores and print off pictures of our kids and hang those on the walls. Sonce they are printed copies of our digital pictures if they get lost or stolen its no big deal. I've bought all kinds of storage boxes and bags and such, everything goes in those. If the house comes down chances are some of those will still survive so I can just drag them out and go. Everything then gets inventoried in spreadsheets that can be used for insurance.
All my 'stuff' being inventoried gets a priority as to what goes first if we would have to leave it can be in an organized fashion or I can locate or find it when I need it. Anything that I really need or I'm that attached to is in the bug out gear so it can go out of the house with me.

One of the big problems police face both before and after every disaster is getting people to leave their homes and go to the refuge areas.
People are so afraid of looters grabbing their stuff that they are willing to put their lives in jeopardy.

Would I camp on my own property?
I might, if it was safe.
If it was just to guard salvage likely not.
Most salvage operations can be completed in a day or two.
If you have any really high value items you will have a good idea of where they should be in the rubble, but life comes before stuff.

I own my home and have a big double lot, depending on what happened to the house I would stay in my travel trailer in the yard, If it was something that was going to take a long time to repair as in being hit by a tornado or destroyed by a fire then my homeowners insurance would put a mobile home on the lot or pay for rent till the replacement house was built, or I have the option to go stay at my cabin. I would make sure everything of any value that was able to be salvaged was either secured on the premises or taken to family members or even to the cabin, a storage building is also a good option.

For those of us that don't have much, it greatly simplifies the issue! As long as DW and kiddos make it out with me, I'm happy. Most of the important stuff (photos, documents, etc) are already backed up at relatives' houses miles away.