DON'T WAIT TILL DISASTER STRIKES BEFORE STOCKING ESSENTIAL STUFF.

Byline: Lori Moody Daily News Staff Writer

It's not enough having an adequate supply of water, snacks and batteries for the next earthquake. You must do it with panache.

To the rescue is a backpack in basic black, chock-full of the necessities of life for the next temblor.

``We like to call it emergency preparedness as a fashion statement,'' said Lauren Sand, who, with partner Thomas Nagel, sells backpacks, fanny packs and other holders of things to tide someone, or their pet, over during an emergency. Their Brentwood-based company, Grabbit, sells the snazzy safety sacks for $28 to $200.

Sand is one of about 40 vendors who will be attending the city's Emergency Preparedness Fair next weekend at Griffith Park. And if you need another incentive to buy, buy, buy, April is also California Earthquake Preparedness Month.

Here's your chance to survey samples of everything from fasteners meant to keep your computer, refrigerator and other large or fragile objects from taking on a life of their own during a quake to pumps that siphon water out of swimming pools for use during a fire.

A roll-up table and fold-up chairs that American Outdoors in Redding sells to campers are also marketed for those emergencies. The table rolls up to 5-1/2 inches in diameter and 32 inches long. It unrolls to about the size of a card table, holds up to 100 pounds and costs $39.95. Fold-up chairs range from $44.95 to $64.95 per chair.

Jim Hufman, vice president of marketing, said the idea came about after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

``We got out our camping gear and set it up in our garage and front lawn,'' he said. ``If you're going to have emergency preparedness equipment, you want to have it small enough and convenient enough to store where you can get at it and set it up quickly.''

Fastening Solutions Inc. of Van Nuys has taken its Quake Wax, a blend of microcrystalline waxes used to hold glass, porcelain, china and other objects, a step further.

Now, there's Kid's Wax ($4.95) that can be used in place of glue, staples and other fasteners. Its consistency differs from that of Quake Wax, making it easier for children to use, said Bill Hopkins, company vice president and founder.

This year, Hopkins' company also introduced an anti-theft fastening device, LockGuard (starting at $39.95) for computers, printers and other office equipment; and Glass Tack ($3.95), a putty adhesive for mounting and holding glass items.

One of the most popular items at SOS Survival Products in Van Nuys is a $23.95 AM/FM radio flashlight combo that operates with batteries, by solar power or hand crank.

But it's been a while since the last natural catastrophe, and Jeff Edelstein, owner of the store, said consumer interest in emergency preparedness products tends to wane with the passing of time.

``The further you get away from a disaster, the less of a market there is,'' Edelstein said. ``People don't think about it as much.''

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Photo: ``We like to call it emergency preparedness as a fashion statement,'' Lauren Sand says of her Grabbit line of safety sacks.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News