What will you do when 911 is down?

About Hubs: A Village Hub is a designated local gathering place where trained volunteers use simple proven systems (like whiteboards, paper, and human messengers) for assessing what is going on and connecting needs to local solutions after a disaster. Hubs complement and support Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs set up by local governments. 

Hubs have a system for working with the continuous flow of questions, new information, and offers of help that residents have during disasters. This allows CERTs to focus on their missions. 

The Hub concept was pioneered by volunteers in Seattle where they call them Emergency Communication Hubs. In his Time to Rethink Readiness Op-Ed in the San Jose Spotlight, Certain Together founder David Smathers Moore makes the case for expanding the Hubs model to more cities as part of a larger rethinking of disaster preparedness. This approach puts social engagement and local grassroots capacity at the center of resilience. Moving in this direction is powerful for health and quality of life all the time -- even if disasters never strike. David also warns against an over-reliance on digital tools and highlights the Hubs' use of paper and pen, white boards, and local in-real-life relationships. 

The first of the videos here is about the Seattle Hubs system. In the second, David teaches a course segment on how information is managed at a Hub using a simple tracking form and hanging organizers.