FIELD NOTE 07 / Work together / Before trouble
The rumor mill is not a radio station
Make contact plans that survive a dead phone and keep verified observations separate from rumors.
Your objective
Everyone knows how to reconnect and where to find a dated, understandable update.
Gather these
- Paper contact cards
- Two agreed meeting places
- Battery radio and instructions
- A local paper map
- Noticeboard or shared notebook
The procedure
Pick meeting places
Agree on a nearby meeting point for a home emergency and another outside the neighborhood if you cannot return. Check access and likely hazards. Choose an out-of-area contact; carry contact information on paper as well as on phones.
Write a channel ladder
Choose a normal contact method, a backup, and an agreed action if both fail. Keep messages short and dated. Include a check-in time and a way to acknowledge receipt. Avoid repeatedly traveling to look for someone when a safe meeting plan can do the job.
Keep an information log
Write observation, source, time, confidence, and next check. Separate official instructions, direct observations, and unconfirmed reports. Remove or visibly correct stale notices. A rumor that is copied ten times is still one unconfirmed report.
Make updates accessible
Offer large print, plain language, translated summaries checked by fluent speakers, and verbal updates where needed. Avoid relying only on color, a QR code, or audio. Let people repeat the next action in their own words to check understanding.
Protect private details
Keep public boards focused on general needs and services. Do not post medical conditions, exact household stockpiles, children's whereabouts, or vulnerable people's addresses. Use a private route for individual requests and get consent before sharing personal information.
Stop and get help when…
- Do not relay an unverified report as an evacuation instruction.
- Radio transmitting equipment must be used according to local rules; emergency planning is not blanket permission to transmit.
A small, safe practice run
Read a fictional update to another person. Ask them to identify the source, time, confidence, and next action. Then try the paper contact plan.
Your field worksheet
Copy these prompts onto paper. Keep personal information private.
- Nearby meeting point / alternate:
- Out-of-area contact / channel ladder:
- Message / source / time / confidence:
- Next check / correction / accessible version:
Sources and limits
Sources checked . The sources support the safety and reference facts; the worksheet and drill are Oikos planning suggestions.
Regional examples need local adaptation. For specialized treatment, building work, waste systems, or food processing, use qualified help and complete technical references.
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