> I would definitely precede my visit with a door hanger that said I would be
> walking around on x afternoon doing an inventory. And I think this would
> be a nifty project for a Boy Scout troop doing their emergency preparedness
> merit badge. But a 2 block radius is about all I could handle in a disaster.

I participated in a county experiment to see if it was feasible to hand out drugs if a terrorist released some communicable agent (think giving out Cipro in an anthrax attack). They'd already tried an experiment where people were to go to a county shelter for pills or shots. Both ideas have problems.

The county had us CERT volunteers in green reflective vests walk around neighborhoods in groups of three and give out pamphlets to whoever was home and leave door hangers for vacant houses and apartments. We had ham radio operators with each group, and I know from the communications that several people called the cops about us. Because it was a county drill, the fire department, police department, and county health department all coordinated, so there were no volunteers tasered or teargassed, but the police rolled a car every time someone called so they could confirm it was us.

I'm not sure whether to advise that you alert the police ahead of time what you're doing or to say go ahead but expect the police. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission, but I have no expectation of forgiveness from the cops.

> check for water or gas leaks and turn off those at risk

I cringe whenever I hear or read this. In California, the law prohibits homeowners from turning the gas back on if it's been turned out outside. You have to get the gas company to send an employee out to inspect and then to confirm that all gas-fed appliances have pilot lights running if there are any and whatever else they check to prevent explosions and fires when they turn the gas back on. One of our firemen said after the Loma Prieta earthquake some knucklehead in his neighborhood did everyone a favor and ran through the neighborhood turning off all the gas. Needlessly, of course, and no one had any heat or cooking for a couple of days. The gas company was checking all its mains and big commercial stuff; homes were on the back burner.

I realize you've said turn off those at risk, but still I cringe. If you don't have a gas leak, don't turn off your gas.

Everybody's mileage varies, and we'll all use our best judgment.