Keeping real cash AND coins as part of your emerg kits is only common sense. Those of us watching the post disaster event unfold on the TV see it every time. Cash money talks ...and bulls%#$&^$% walks.
Even if you are just evacuating it makes sense. 'Cuz where you run to may have their own communication challenges and the stops along the way will almost always take cash...though I'd use plastic (debit or credit) as long as I could.
I figure slowly contributing change and gradually pigeon-holing cash is the way to go ...well ...unless you already have a chunk of cash in the bank and move it out to a locked safe in the house.
I figure a couple grand should be enough for most likely events. Its not too practical for most people to have too much cash secreted away waiting for the big disaster.
Though I admit ...if I lived in the south where hurricanes come every year ...I might do things different.
And I agree ...smaller bills would seem better. And hey ...its easier to hide a fiver from yourself every week than a 50 or 100 spot. I rarely even see 50's or 100's these days, what with auto pay check deposit and such.