There are two things that I would like to do but simply cannot afford to at this time.
One is solar panels. This is not solely specific to the megaquake. My initial interest in it is due to environmental concerns and energy independence. I mention it in conjunction with the megaquake because even if the power grid goes down, you could still have power.
That assumes that the earthquake does not damage the panels, so there is a risk there. Also, you do need to install something like a battery backup, but that is something that has been used successfully by solar panel owners during power outages caused by weather.
Not only would it be beneficial for you to maintain power for yourself, but there is this image that stays with me from Hurricane Sandy, and a gate with an power strip on an extension cord and a sign, "We have power. Please feel free to charge your phone."
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cellphone-charging-new-york-620x465.jpeg
I think about that not just for the convenience of phones, but also for medications that need refrigeration, or electrical medical devices. If there are pockets of power while the grid is being repaired, that can do a lot of good.
The other thing I really want, and this is very earthquake specific, is getting the house bolted to the foundation. If you live in the Pacific Northwest and your home was built after 1978, this should already have been done. There are a lot of houses still in use that were built before then. My entire block and most of the nearby houses fall into that category.
For the structural recommendations that they make, a lot of them end up getting made with regular maintenance. Your water heater gets replaced every twelve years or so, and now it should be raised and strapped into place automatically. Roofs last longer, but if you have a house from before 1978, odds are good that the roof has been replaced at least once, and when mine was the chimney was reinforced. Bolting the house to the foundation doesn't neatly fold in with any other maintenance - it's something you just have to decide to do and do it.
(The other thing that is often mentioned is bracing the cripple wall, which would make sense to do at the same time as the bolting.)
Unfortunately, the basic quote that I got for bolting the house comes in at around $4000. (I could probably get it done for $3800.) I do not have that kind of money available.
I have to admit that looking at the instructions for doing so, it does seem like a project with strong do-it-yourself potential if you have any ability at all in that direction. I don't really, but there are people who do.
You can do some preliminary reading at http://www.earthquakesafety.com/earthquake-retrofitting.html, but I also recommend Living With Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest by Robert S Yeats. In addition to talking about bolting and structural reinforcements there is also practical information on non-structural improvements, like cabinet latches and shelving paper.
In the meantime, as so much of the past few weeks has focused on working together, it does make me wonder if there are ways neighborhoods could come together and get collective deals on panel installation or retrofitting. Maybe a few people with home improvement know-how could combine with neighbors who know less but are still willing to help, and make an entire neighborhood stronger.
Not all pockets of power have to be electrical in nature.
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