Too few? Too few in tech maybe, because more than 2/3 of tech workers moved here. Most of the natives above a certain age have a decent grasp of the dangers, bu

Too few? Too few in tech maybe, because more than 2/3 of tech workers moved here. Most of the natives above a certain age have a decent grasp of the dangers, but also know how remote they are. With the exception of '93-'98, I've experienced every event in the Bay Area since 1971. Many local water systems are reinforced against earthquake damage. It's really the loss of electricity and gas leaks that are the problem. That said, you should always have drinking and non-drinking water on hand that will last a few days. If you're smart, own some coolers and keep ice packs on hand to preserve your food. There are more cases than just natural disasters, when that could come in handy. Even Loma Prieta only caused loss of power and/or gas in a few select areas, mostly the areas that got wrecked, where there were bigger problems to worry about. The epicenter was West of Gilroy, but there was no significant damage South of Oakland and SF. That's 90 miles away from the epicenter. There are only a few really dangerous faults running through the area. If you're near one, you should seriously prepare and have safety plans. The East Bay from Hayward to El Cerrito or so, for instance, is really dangerous. The Greater San Jose is pretty tame. That's my take, at least.