Just my 2 cents, but I didn't see a lot of people recommending fire extinguishers. In a situation like these, the fire department will be stretched so thin, your house's (or what's left of it) ashes will be cold before they show up. I keep a large fire extinguisher on every floor of my house - one in my bedroom, one in the kitchen, and one in the basement, with two more out in the garage. There's no such thing as 'too many'. You may end up being your only 'fire department' (And after an earthquake, water may not be flowing). I've also heard a few people recommend buckets of sand (or even soil dug from your yard), kept inside the house, to be thrown on a fire if need be. I guess some old blankets would work too.<br>Another thing - I was walking through the local Home Depot the other day, and noticed they now carry an 'explosive gas' detector. It detects natural gas and propane. I thought it was a good idea to have one. My house (boiler, fireplace, range, dryer, etc.) is almost all gas. It was $60 bucks, but it'll help me sleep. (A guy I work with gave me a nice idea - chain a old wrench near your gas shut-off valve. This isn't the time to go searching for a wrench).<br>I keep two 23,000 BTU kerosene heaters (stored in the basement), with the kerosene (in 5 gallon containers) out in the garage (also bought at Home Depot, on sale for $89 bucks each). I think they'll help if it gets too cold. I want to get more.<br>I, too, keep a fair supply of 'civilian MRE's' on hand (Campbell soup, Chef Boyardee 'whatever', various canned fruits and veggies, canned tuna & chicken, etc. Anything that has a decent shelf-life. You could even heat them on the kerosene heaters if you needed to, though some of them taste good cold). I also have some 'comfort' foods - hard candy, chocolate bars, hot cocoa drink mix, etc. - I even have some stuffed animals to hand out to the kiddies to help keep them calm. <br>I have two 55-gallon plastic barrels with water in the basement. I got them from a local soda-pop manufacturer. It's how syrup is shipped to their business. I asked if they would sell them to me, and the guy said "we just throw them away, take as many as you like." I just rinsed them out with hot water and a little bleach, and filled them with water. <br>That covers the food going in, but what about when it wants to come back out? If your toilet isn't functional (and your yard is somewhat private), you can make an impromptu latrine with a post-hole digger. Leave the dirt by the side of the hole, and throw some back in after you use it. When it's full, just dig another one a few feet away. I even keep an old shower curtain as a 'privacy tent'. I use a piece of 1/2 inch EMT electrical tubing, bent into a square and hang the shower curtain from it. I've never actually used it, but I guess when you 'need to go', it'll work just fine. Don't forget toilet paper! You may have to give some to neighbors if they run out. <br>If you have babies - diapers, formula, etc. After an emergency, these things will be hard to find. Think about everything you use in your 'normal' life, and try to keep some on hand - just in case.<br>Sorry for talking so long, I guess it's the scout in me that likes to be prepared. <br>