Hi Petra. My 72 hour disaster supply kit actually came with a whistle attached to the top of the bag. I have expanded my supplies since getting that basic kit, but the whistle remains one of my "essentials". This is a good idea for anyone, not just in an earthquake prone area, but tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, whatever mother nature has on her mind basically. Like Don said, you might need that whistle some day to let someone know that you are still alive in that pile of rubble that used to be your house before the ground failed beneath it!