Good question, especially for those of us in earthquake country. My approach for the aftermath of a major quake is to sit tight and camp at home while we repair or rebuild. I have a single family dwelling; an apartment complicates things a bit. IIRC, several apartment buildings were collapsed/uninhabitable following Northridge.<br><br>I don't think you can count on electricity following a quake. In fact, power outages are not unknown even without quakes. I would recommend stocking up on propane equipment for cooking. White gas is simply too hazardous, not that propane is hazard free. In an apartment situation, I would consider using a backpacker type stove, since you might have to leave. Two burner coleman stoves are just too bulky and heavy for that eventuality. If you can count on staying put, stockpiling propane in 25 lb bottles and using a bulky stove will work well; you will be able to purify lots of water and cook as well.<br><br>Coming from a desert background, potable water is used ONLY for drinking when there is any question about availability. Don't mess with freeze dried stuff. Canned foods are what you want - they already have water in them and will not intrude upon your water supply. Stored in cool, dry conditions, they will last well beyond their expiration dates, and you can always rotate them into your normal consumption. Remeber that you have more water stored than you may realize - there are about five gallons of perfectly fine water in your toilet tank (not the bowl). Shut off the supply valve in order to preserve its purity after the quake. The sewers probably will be busted, along with all the other utilities, so think about waste disposal. If you have canteens around, store them full, and change the water periodically. Contaminated water from the tap can be rendered fully potable by bringing to a full, rolling boil. You do not need to sustain the boil for several minutes as some recommend.<br><br>I recommend canned foods, especially those that can be eater without any or very little preparation, which is nearly all canned stuff, come to think about it. You will have many more important things to do without messing around with cooking, especially at the start. I have a lot of staples packed away, but I have also stored some luxuries (gourmet chocolates! and similar) just so we can give ourselves a little psychological lift. I figure most of my fuel will be consumed in purifying water, rather than cooking.<br><br>I would think about shelter, too, in case the building is uninhabitable. A lot can be done with blue tarps and simple tools and supplies. Historically, fire and aftershicks have complicated post quake life. So all of us should be prepared to leave if circumstances require.<br><br>Quakes are a fact of life in SoCal, and actually throughout the rest of the USA as well, but I would rather take my chances with an earthquake than a tornado or hurricane any day. Quakes are easier to plan for.