Question of the Week: Are you prepared for a disaster?

How prepared are you in the case of an earthquake or major fire? Do you have water and food stashed somewhere? First aid supplies? Do you know where the gas switch is to turn it off? Could you find flashlights or matches in an emergency? Where are you going to meet your family after a disaster? What if all the phone lines are down?

These are questions most of us don't think about on a day-to-day basis. I know that I have just a dim understanding of where our circuit breaker and gas switches are. I can't find a flashlight in our house on a regular day, much less in an emergency. And I accidentally ate our "earthquake food" the other day.

And it appears I'm not alone. A poll of residents suggests almost no one is fully prepared for when the big earthquake or wildfire hits -- and make no mistake it will.

Leyla Hilmi, San Anselmo resident: "I'm not too bad, but not great." Hilmi has emergency supplies all in one place, though "probably not enough," she said. But, she's not worried. There is no doubt in her mind that a disaster will strike, just like the flood in 2005. "But worrying about it wouldn't have stopped it."

Anonymous employee in San Anselmo shop: "I have not a clue. I would know what to do, but I'm not prepared at all." She asked that her name not be used, after admitting she has taken no steps at all for a disaster.

Colin Moore, San Francisco resident, works in San Anselmo: "I wouldn't say super-prepared." Moore has some food and backpacking gear he could use. And after growing up in Southern California, he's pretty sure he knows what to do in an earthquake. According to Moore, you should get down in a space where nothing can fall on you -- such as next to your bed, in the space between the bed and wall.

Denise Lescohier-Tung, San Anselmo resident: "I'm 50 percent prepared." Lescohier-Tung has water and canned foods set aside and is pretty sure she knows where all the flashlights are. She also is pretty sure she knows what to do in an emergency, "though if I actually remember to do it is a different question." Her lack of total preparedness is something that concerns her. "Now, I've got to think about that all day."

Steve Oldknow, Mill Valley resident, biking through San Anselmo: "I'm probably more prepared than most people," because I'm a contractor and have the tools and back-up generators. Oldknow also has water stored up and a bike to get around. Though he's never taken an emergency-preparedness class, after moving here from England he learned about what to do in an earthquake, and will be hiding under something solid when the big one comes.

If you feel like you're not prepared for a disaster situation, Get Ready Ross Valley is teaching a free two-hour emergency preparedness class this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the San Anselmo Town Hall.