After experiencing a few small to moderate L.A. area earthquakes since moving here, I have tried to pull together a basic emergency kit for my home and my car. The kit includes water, some dry foods (including beef jerky and peanut butter), flashlights, hand-crank radio, matches, and candles. Last night, my part of the Marina experienced a blackout, which gave me the chance to test my disaster skills in a relatively safe environment. The results were mixed.