Just this past Monday I was caught totally unprepared for a mandatory evacauation.
Apparently some CalTrans workers hit a 12" natural gas main whilst demolishing a freeway overpass. Concerned about a possiblity of explosion, they, along with the local PD and fire department evacuated a whole 2 mile radius. Even a mile away I could hear and smell the high pressure gas spewing out (sounded like a jet plane).
I was about to take a nap at about 6PM when a firefighter banged on my door and told us to get the heck out. I complied, bringing only my wallet, keys, cellphone, and surprisingly, digital camera. I was thinking we'd only be out a couple minutes or an hour at most. I was also dressed in only a tanktop and shorts.
Boy was I wrong! We weren't let back into the neighborhood until 8 hours later! I didn't get back until 2:30AM! In retrospect, I should probably have had an emergency bag ready along with a pistol and ammo. I don't have a safe, and I can't carry three longarms with me.
Thankfully, there were police and firemen posted right outside my door, so I wasn't really concerned about looters.
I'm in the process of making up a BOB now!