Local Information Sharing During a Crisis

During a crisis, accurate local information is one of the most valuable resources available. Knowing which roads are blocked, where water is being distributed, which medical facilities are operating, and whether a threat is approaching your area directly affects survival decisions. When normal communication channels are disrupted, maintaining the flow of accurate local information requires deliberate community effort.

Why Information Fails During Crises

Normal information systems break down during crises for several reasons:

Reason	Effect
Infrastructure failure	Internet, mobile networks, and broadcasts may be unavailable
Information overload	When systems work, volume of unverified information is overwhelming
Geographic isolation	Different areas have different situations; distant information may be irrelevant
Rumour and panic	Fear drives the sharing of unverified, often wrong information
Deliberate misinformation	In conflict scenarios, false information may be circulated intentionally

The antidote to all of these is a local, trusted, face-to-face information network.

The Community Information Hub

A community information hub is a designated physical location where:

• Verified information is posted and updated
• People can report what they have directly observed
• Needs and resources are matched
• Rumours are assessed and debunked

This can be as simple as a notice board outside a community centre, the front door of a trusted community leader, or a wall at a designated meeting point.

What gets posted:

• Confirmed road conditions and route information
• Locations of operating water, food, and medical supply points
• Confirmed security information (safe vs. unsafe areas)
• Communication schedule (when broadcasts are expected)
• Missing persons and family reunification notices

What does NOT get posted:

• Unverified rumours
• Second- or third-hand reports without clear source
• Speculation about future events

Verification Standards

Before sharing information, apply a simple filter:

1. Did you observe this directly? Direct observation is the most reliable source.
2. Who told you? A trusted community member who was present is reasonably reliable. An anonymous report via messaging is not.
3. Does it match other observations? Consistency with other reports increases reliability.
4. Is it specific? "Three petrol stations on the north road are closed" is more reliable than "no fuel anywhere."

⚠️ Rumours that create panic — "they are coming for us," "the water is poisoned," "everyone is leaving" — spread faster than facts and cause real harm. Before sharing alarming information, ask: did you see this yourself? Who specifically told you?

Scouts and Information Gatherers

Communities can organise information gathering through assigned scouts — people who travel designated routes and report back on conditions:

1. Assign routes — each scout covers a specific area or set of streets.
2. Standardise what to observe — road conditions, open businesses, visible threats, people in need.
3. Set observation windows — scouts go out at designated times and report back to the hub.
4. Two-scout minimum — never send a single person; buddy system provides safety and verification.

Scouts report only what they directly observe. They do not interpret or speculate.

Information Protocols for Different Channels

Face-to-Face

Most reliable. Use for:

• Sharing actionable, urgent information with people in your immediate area
• Debunking rumours — hearing "I was there and that is not what I saw" from a known person is more persuasive than a written correction

Radio Messaging

For communities with two-way radios:

• Use a designated channel for community information (separate from emergency use)
• Keep messages short, specific, and factual
• Identify yourself: "This is [name] at [location], reporting [observation]"
• Do not relay unverified second-hand reports

Written Notices

For the community information board:

• Include author, date, and time
• Write only what was directly observed or officially confirmed
• Cross off or remove outdated information

Written Message Relay

For passing information between communities or distant family:

• Written messages are slower but more accurate than verbal relay (which degrades through retelling)
• Include the source, time of observation, and specific details
• Instruct the recipient to pass the message along if appropriate

Addressing Rumours

When a damaging rumour is circulating:

1. Identify the source if possible — trace back to who said what and when.
2. Gather actual evidence — what do people who were present actually report?
3. Address it directly at the community hub — post a factual correction with sources.
4. Have a trusted community voice state the correction — credibility of the source matters.

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Quick Reference

Channel	Use For	Key Rule
Face-to-face	Urgent; actionable; debunking rumours	First-hand only
Community notice board	Verified information; resource locations	Author + date + what you observed
Two-way radio	Route updates; resource locations	Identify yourself; first-hand only
Written relay	Communicating across distance	Source + time + specific details
Rumours	Address directly; trace source; factual correction	Don't share what you can't verify