• Talk about evacuation with your kids, and what to do if you get separated.   Teach children how and when to call for help, and what to do if they are not with you, depending on where they are during different kinds of emergency.   Teach them what gas smells like.  
• Discuss what you will do together during various potential emergencies.   Know the plan.
• Have 2 designated meeting spots for whenever family members are separated and cannot contact each other.  (One near home, and one more distant in case the local area is closed.)
• Have an out of state contact for all family members - program that number into all family cell phones.   (Often long distance phone service works when local service does not.)
• Each room in your home should have two viable exits.
• Teach family members how to use a fire extinguisher, how to shut off gas electric and water - keep dedicated tools near turnoff points.  If you suspect gas leak (if the meter is spinning that would indicate a leak), turn off gas, but do not turn off electrical breakers as a spark could cause explosion.    Never turn the gas back on yourself - call the gas company.   In the event of flood or electrical fire, you may want to turn off electrical breakers.
• Those with illnesses - Keep a list of medications & strengths with you at all times
• Figure out what are the safest places in your house for any given emergency.  Trapped in a fire, you want to be away from the direction where the fire is approaching.   In an EQ, get out of the kitchen, away from windows, mirrors, hanging objects, fireplaces and tall unsecured furniture - you will want to drop, cover, and hold, under some strong piece of furniture.  (This is not to protect us from structure collapse, but because in our homes, it is more likely we will be injured from falling object.)
• Keep in mind that your plan has to work when you are suddenly awakened at 3am and feel disoriented and need to act.

Become Informed:

• Learn the emergency policies of your children's schools.
• Know your escape routes based on potential fire location and direction and safe areas nearby.  
• Note that Zuma Beach north parking lot is our evacuation site.
• Know the nearest 100 ft altitude to escape potential tsunamis.  (If ever there is severe earthquake shaking for over 20 seconds, a tsunami might follow.  Immediately get off the beach.  Head for high ground – take a few seconds to grab personal disaster supply kit.)
• Understand the importance of timely evacuation during fire (After delaying, there can be gridlock, fallen trees, loss of visibility due to smoke, loss of oxygen making car engines fail, fire can travel at 30 mph, inhaling heated air can damage lungs or be fatal, structures can explode due to air pressure variation.)   To best save your property, think of advanced preparation.   It is never advised to stay, but if you do, first evacuate children, pets, and others in your care.