HOT TIPS : IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, HEAD FOR THE PANORAMA MALL.

Byline: Barbara De Witt

El Nino strikes, your house floods and then, WHAM! a tree falls into your living room. Forget the flashlight you bought for the next earthquake and call somebody for sand bags.

What? You don't know anyone to call besides Mom?

To get the right numbers and hands-on help for disasters, check out the preparedness program today at Panorama Mall, 8401 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City. The neighborhood shopping center will have representatives from the Red Cross, L.A. Fire Department, Department of Water & Power and others to teach you how to deal with various situations, such as getting the water and tree out of your house. For more information call [phone].

She's a makeup maven: Don't look in Atlanta. Scarlett is alive and well in New Hope, Pa., selling way-cool cosmetics to supermodels, local trendies and drag queens.

The new shop, owned by Scarlett Messina, features Mary Quant-inspired makeup with a special collection of items (including false eyelashes) called must-haves for drag queens.

Messina says her best sellers are Pixie Dust, an eye gleamer used by supermodel Shalom and a face highlighter called Chroma that comes in a nifty little pan. To order a catalog call [phone] or find her on the Web at www.scarlettcos.com.

Toolin' in style: Folks who have a sports utility vehicle but wouldn't dream of driving anywhere it might get dirty, will love this. It's a sleek matte black tool for the sophisticated urban adventurer that is a spade, saw, hatchet, hammer, wrench and nail puller that has also has a pack of matches and a compass to find your way from the parking lot to the opera. Oh yeah, it also opens wine bottles.

The 10-in-1 survival tool in a classy black drawstring pouch costs $26 and you can order it from Northwest Express, 2518 S. Pacific Highway, Medford, Ore., 97501; phone [phone].

Shopper's alert: Think of it. You could own Timothy Leary's very own mushroom recipe or Janis Joplin's feather boa and bell bottoms. Yep, they and other icon discards will go on the auction block today at Christie's, 360 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. The sale begins at 10 a.m. and the number to call is [phone].

More news. Saks Fifth Avenue will open in February on Santa Barbara's chichi State Street a few blocks north of Nordstrom; and Wet Seal shops now have a catalog featuring popular teen brands such as Hot Kiss, XOXO, Tag Rag, and MUDD. To get a free catalog call [phone].

D for diamond: Roses are romantic for Valentine's Day, but diamonds last sooo much longer and don't affect allergies, thinks Miz Hot Tips. However, not all diamonds are created equal, according to Fred Cuellar, president of Diamond Cutters International. They come in grades, and ``D'' is the clearest while ``J'' grade stones are usually dingy yellow. When shopping, carry a pure white business card and fold it, putting the diamond in the crease. Then look for the four C's: clarity, color, cut and carat size (a point weighs one-hundredth of a carat). Finally, if the diamond has a flaw that's visible to the naked eye, you don't want it.

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Photo: Sassy teen fashions such as this Hot Kiss ensemble will be available in the new catalog from Wet Seal stores.