Preparedness here means planning for three overlapping situations: a power shut-off, an earthquake, and days of poor outdoor air quality. Public agencies publish detailed guidance; this is the household shopping side of it.
Water and food
Store drinking water in food-safe containers and rotate it on a schedule. Follow current public-agency guidance for how much to keep per person and for how many days, since recommendations have grown over time.
Power and light
Keep a charged power bank, a supply of the battery sizes your devices use, flashlights on each floor and a battery or solar lantern for area light. Lanterns are safer indoors than candles. Top up the power bank on the same day each month so it is not flat when needed.
Information and documents
A hand-crank or battery radio still works when the mobile network is congested or down. Keep deeds, insurance policies, identity documents and a backup drive in a fireproof bag or box you can pick up quickly.
Utilities after a quake
Keep a non-sparking shut-off wrench near the gas meter and learn where each shut-off is. Only turn gas off if you smell gas or hear it escaping — and never turn it back on yourself. The utility or a qualified professional does that. Some home projects require specialized training, permits, or a licensed professional. Request a Pro Match if you need help finding a participating local service provider.
Product suggestions
Products mentioned in this article
Informational suggestions only. We do not publish prices, ratings or reviews, and a product is never a substitute for professional work.
Safety and security
New Homeowner EssentialEmergency flashlights
Rechargeable or battery flashlights kept in known locations for outages. Store one per floor plus one in the car.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Safety and security
New Homeowner EssentialFirst-aid kit
A stocked household kit for minor injuries. Check contents and expiry dates once a year.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Preventive maintenance
New Homeowner EssentialWater-shutoff tool
A meter key for turning off the main supply in an emergency. Locate your shut-off before you need it.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialEmergency radio
A hand-crank or battery radio for alerts when power and mobile networks are down.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialPortable power bank
A charged battery pack for phones during outages. Top it up on a set schedule.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialBattery supply
A stocked box of the sizes your alarms, flashlights and radio use.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialEmergency water-storage containers
Food-safe containers for stored drinking water. Follow public-agency guidance on quantity and rotation.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialBasic earthquake preparedness kit
A grab kit with supplies for the first days after a quake. Review the contents against current state guidance.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialFireproof document bag
A heat-resistant bag or box for deeds, passports, insurance papers and backups.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialUtility shutoff tool
A non-sparking wrench kept near the meter. Gas should only be turned back on by the utility or a qualified professional.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Emergency preparedness
New Homeowner EssentialSolar or battery-powered lantern
Area lighting that is safer indoors than candles during an outage.
Checklist item — no retailer link is available for this product yet.
Roofing, electrical, structural, HVAC and anything permit-required or involving gas or main water lines should be handled by a qualified professional — not as a do-it-yourself project. Request a Pro Match if you need help finding a participating local service provider.
Request a Pro MatchKeep reading
Some home projects require specialized training, permits, or a licensed professional. Request a Pro Match if you need help finding a participating local service provider.
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