soli: I don't know about you, but before I go spending more than $20.00 on anything I might need to trust my life with, or to give to somone I care about, who might need it to trust their life with, I spend 5 minutes on google. I do think that package of overpriced sub-par quality stuff was at least an unresearched purchase, by whom or for whom notwithstanding. Based upon rereading the article, your point IS well taken. It still looks like something FEMA would stockpile, minimum standard quality, assembled by the lowest bidder.

As far as reducing the weight, good point. The amount of gear someone needs to survive is inversely proportional to their previous practice, experience, skill, and education. I believe in a previous post I mentioned buying a good urban survival book..

I wasn't going to critique the contents, but maybe I should.

1) flashlight, functional maybe for bedside coloring book?? let me drop it on concrete once. get a metal one with LED lamp.
2) Prybar ? It's on the tarp in the pic..Looks like the cheap chinese knockoff of the vaughan superbar. I've bent a couple of those generics beyond recognition in the past. Get the real thing.
3) Tarp. The brown/silver ones with reinforced corners will keep the heat off. Blue ones will not. Those cheap blue ones start falling apart after 3 days in the sun. Been there, Done that. Hurricane Charley '04. The 5x7 isn't big enough, need the 10x12.
4) carrying all that lifeboat water. ok, if you're in a lifeboat without a Mk6 desalinator. Me personally, some canteens, water tabs, silcock wrench and 4 feet of garden hose is lighter, and more useful. Awful hard to discipline the troops or smack the neighbor's terrified rottweiler off your child with a 4 ounce water pouch. pack a larger bladder if you can haul it.
5) food. she mentioned REI.. while there buy a decent pack, cooking gear and a stove, if possible, a tent. Likely food will be available for the digging.
6) medkit: didn't get a listing, probably doesn't have betadine, iodine tincture,triple antibiotic ointment, much less hemostatics. Also likely doesn't have a 1 week supply of basic OTC drugs, nor enough sterile gauze pads or tape. May not have tweezers even. replace/purchase to stock it appropriately.
7) waterproof matches. no backup of a bic lighter, ferro rod, etc.
8) are the masks N95 rated ?
9) Gloves. I shudder to think of most people's hands after using those for a day. get a good pair.
10) rope. get a hundred feet of paracord.

IMHO, rest of the stuff appears to be of some use.

Now on to my opinon of what is missing:
1) tools to turn off gas and water. available in lightweight aluminum.
2) 6 in 1 screwdriver, small hammer. a few nails.
3) local, city, and state maps and compass.
4) Duct tape, the universal fastener.
5) bug juice
6) hand sanitizer
7) toilet paper
8) hand crank radio
9) changes of clothes for everyone
10) footwear, like boots..
11) hat for each and multiple bandannas
12) raingear
13) a good multi-tool.
14) any legal documents you might need.
15) electrolyte packets, like gatorade
16) sunscreen.

If she has kids...
diapers ?
wipes ?
lotion ?
pacifiers ?
formula ?

if she has a car, or generator and intends to use either..super siphon or equivalent. Expect to scavenge fuel, legalities aside.

If not, a simple 'radio flyer' childs' wagon has use, to haul kids and/or the pack, at least, on debris free areas.

Those that think they're going to get out easily and travel light, might find the roads impassible, bridges down.
After a major quake it might be better to sleep outside for a few days, so planning for that isn't overplanning for immediate evac if the roads are closed. Sheltering in place or close to it is likely to happen for the survivors, whether by intent or circumstance. Maybe for a week or more.