The fires sound terrible, I've watched a bit of coverage and heard another Aussie talk about camping on the beach.
You are correct, water, some canned good, fuel, a means to protect yourself is the minimum.
Up until a year ago we lived in a town that Emergency services were about an hour away, It's always hard to explain to others why you can't just sit and wait and expect someone else to save you.
This is exactly what I mean...It's such a simple thing to do and yet so many don't...Or make snide remarks about those who do so. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way...Loads of them doing so right now in NSW.