Now that sounds like a decent concept Ttiger27. I too have thought that no one individual should hold a list to destroy a major network. Yet a network consisting of many go-betweens is bound to suffer from slow response times and even regional failure should 1 link be severed. The 3 connections must then somehow ensure that they can breach these gaps if need arises.

The postal system is another slow matter compared to the internet. If the internet fails, most likely the postal system would also be gone. The Ham radio guys are the obvious fallbacks but they then have to create measures and counter measures, meetup times and such... a hard path again unless there was a crisis to better motivate all persons.

Still, your concept is far better than to not have any concept in play at all. I wish that the radio option allowed for more anonymity too and I'd be on the air too.

I am part of a network, albeit on a national/international scale which much the same concept. What we have is a basic form/template that everyone fills out. They add as much or as little information as they want about there location, there capabilities to assist, etc. The concern being that if the list was ever left out in the open, or mistakenly emailed to someone the contents would not sacrifice anyone's personal information/identity. It also ensures you dont become a "crutch" for those less scrupulous people who may be looking for a couch to crash on or someone knocking on your door looking for a handout instead of using it as a legitimate resource during an emergency.

I can forward the template if someone wants to puruse it. See if its worth while. The basic setup was:
-Anyone added to the list needs to be vouched for by someone already on the list. They then get a blank copy of the template, fill out the information on it to there own comfort level and then email it to the email address on the template. There is one person who updates the list and holds the email account. That person then adds that persons template as they filled it out to the master list and submits the updated list to everyone in the network. Every time someone is added, a new email with the most updated list goes out to everyone.

On the template is information on location, what you are able to offer support with, and how to contact you. BBM, Text, Radio freq., and even rendezvous points that would be checked periodically should a local disaster happen. The reason we set it up was if someone was stranded away from home, they could have a list of potential resources/contacts that may be close to them to assist until they could get back to home base (if even possible). So if I flew out of Ontario...and got stranded in say England...or Winnipeg, etc. I could check my list and see if there is someone local. If communications where up there it would be a matter of contacting them on there terms per the template they filled out. If communications were down, and they had predetermined time/dates/location they would check at then so be it. Some people even noted that they would only check predetermined points during a major scenario for 24 hours, or unless there was an evacuation..then they had secondary or tertiary locations. Its sounds complicated...but when you see the layout it was pretty straight forward. And the key was that everyone's personal comfort level is different..and you didn't have to offer up more than you were willing.

Networking is good. Another layer of safety. Keep me abridged. And if anyone wants the template we used as maybe a starting point or to help get it going I'm all for it.

What we have is a basic form/template that everyone fills out. They add as much or as little information as they want about there location, there capabilities to assist, etc. It also ensures you dont become a "crutch" for those less scrupulous people who may be looking for a couch to crash on or someone knocking on your door looking for a handout instead of using it as a legitimate resource during an emergency.
And the key was that everyone's personal comfort level is different..and you didn't have to offer up more than you were willing.

I like this aspect as many might feel threatened that they have to offer that which they are not comfortable with. Can you imagine during a crisis that you offer to help another and then have to trust that that stranger doesn't harm your family for your good turn? I understand why folks state "you can sleep in my barn" in the movies. It's an offer but there are set limits no matter.

Also you may have offered something in times of plenty and now the offer can't be met. Honesty is always the best road and obligations change as priorities appoint the gift one should offer. The guest should accept that which is only offered freely and ask no more. I love the "Pay it Forward" concept, I just wish all folks would play the game fairly... As others too have stated, many are takers only and it is these folks who ruin this concept from being a success.

I think you should post the form, even just so others could then wrap their minds around this proposal all the better. It might be the stick that lights this fire!

I too was thinking of a total collapse of the network where hams would be in communication. But what I was thinking as not just about the postal system as a functioning entity but in the form that in a total collapse and if you had to move then you could at least find the post office of that particular area. From there, whoever is in charge of that area takes on the obligation of checking the post office even after a collapse in order to make contact, offer assistance or just to meet up with fellow Prepper's that agree to the terms of the group.

I like the basic idea, but I also wouldn't rely on the post office being open, or even physically there in a lot of scenarios.
Yes, ham radio is hard to beat...easy to power off grid, small 2 meter units for local comms are affordable...etc.
However, in addition to the post office, how about alternate dead drop sites as well.

A dead drop site would be a good idea. Or even using a ham on a certain frequency at a certain time of day. That way you could find out who your meeting before you do.

I think the predetermined ham frequencies are a great idea...
how many other hams (or ham capable) do we have here anyways.
I had thought about using the Mont Rigaud repeater as it has great range and emergency power...for how long I don't know, but at least it has something.

I am interested in the ham radio idea, but am still waiting on santa for the necessary supplies. As far as the cache idea is concerned I already have 2 in place and was prepared to offer up there locations quite some time ago, but the idea seemed to dwindle. Here is a pic of the contents before I sealed the 2 lb bucket.

Seems having spent 23 years in the city before returning to the country has me remaining doubtful about offering locations of caches I'd gone to the effort to hide. First, if your gonna share it's location, why even hide it?

I imagine the "pot of gold" concept that some say is at the end of a rainbow. It can't be true but then who has ever dug to find out? I remember a discussion that I came upon that bunch of wives were having during a social gathering and marveled over ever since....they were mentioning that they look into a person's medicine cabinet when the use the washroom. I imagine most of the guys are asking "why" right now as many did when I extended this subject to the men at that time too. Seems this is a natural phenomena that many women do and many stated it gives them a secret peek into the hosts inner aspects...whatever! (All it did for me was make me think what I should now keep in the cabinet for others to gawk at!)

I present the above parable as I think many who happened to be in the area of those coordinates given for your cache might just test the accuracy of them someday because "they could"! Now I was taught that "if you borrowed something, For God's Sake put it BACK!". I live in a area where most leave their keys in the truck and if you broke in, we'd first ask why before calling the cops. But this is because were a small community and help is a long ways off in any direction. Neighbours seem to know what is in your yard as well as you do, but HOPEFULLY they ask before they borrow. Yet upon reflection, I also note I never borrow because bad shit seems to happen when I do borrow.... so I just go buy one or do without...or make one... 🙄 💡

Of course you are right, and your concerns formed part of early conversations on the subject. The idea of sharing locations would require grounds rules and would no doubt be only shared with a select few. Trusted individuals working as part of an emergency planning sub-network. But the idea is a good one, and I am still open to it, if and when further details are worked out.

Me, I don't have a medicine cabinet in my bathroom.

But isn't this idea of networking similar to the one we discussed last year before the snow arrived to hide tubes
of emergency supplies and then make a map of the locations. The idea never got going.

Me , I only have a CB radio in the car.

Yes it is the same idea we discussed last year.

I have a question regarding repeaters. If the power goes out do they have other power sources they can tap into (solar) to extend their functionality. If not are we limited only to those within our are normal range.

That was the whole idea about the ham in the first place. Assuming the post offices were destroyed and the ham towers were down or destroyed then other group leaders could find 3 other group leaders. And that's assuming that the group location hadn't changed from the disaster. But you still have 3 chances of hooking up with other Prepper's and combining strengths.

First thing is to find out who will be leaders in what areas. I'm kind of centralized between Wawa and Sudbury. So I could take that area and anyone who wants to join this network in my area would only share info with me.
Then I would only know of 3 other leaders in three other areas. That way in a disaster we could always be able to find help because the group would be all connected but still maintain ANNOMIMITY.

So if your interested in starting this network sound off if you are willing to take leadership of a certain area. Then it will be up to you to post and inform people in your area to this post so they can see what the idea is and so they know they have to pm you and exchange whatever contact information that they wish to divulge. The leaders will have to have a permenant and back up ways of contacting him/her so people could keep in touch or find help from others that are in the network.

I do know the locations of a few shacks such as ones the snow machine clubs placed on skidoo trails for public use. They are very isolated and most in this region know of such things who live here. Trappers too have shacks too on their traplines (while some even rate as nice homes) that folks in trouble have taken refuse in without conflict. The government ( I presume) even placed hidden wells along the highway for some unknown reasons. The water is ice cold in mid summer and a rest stop for those in the know. I could add these into your database too.

Maybe this map of reference could show rest stops that have washrooms and maybe even their own wells. How many spots have we traveled and noted some specific detail that we figure one should note in case of a crisis? It could just be a large culvert to hide in or a natural refuse in a forest. It could be a hidden stream beside a major freeway or an abandoned house tucked away and covered over by nature. The list could be endless if folks started input regarding such.

The best way to define such places would be to have geographical coordinates. These could be acquired by using your cellphone and some type of tracking program. Otherwise general positions would have to do and I'm guessing many would opt for this first as it is just easier to say "20 miles east on hwy 10 from railway tracks"...vague but still doable.

What about present intel that many know but don't share such as internet access passwords for Hotels and Motels in their region. This too would be useful for travelers that would otherwise do without when they could have had access if we'd just shared such data. Many of these places share this info anyways but just with the paying customers.

Anyways, these are just rambling thoughts from a tired mind....later ~