This past February at the Barnraising in Galveson Texas, we began the process of brainstorming about ways that we could equip ourselves better to respond to environmental disasters. We arranged our tools, methods and needs on a poster: a summary of which is below. Because many of the suggestions overlapped or fit into multiple categories, I've If you suggested something and don't see it, or would like to offer your own suggestions, please add your thoughts to the comments below. We'll be expanding this into a wiki page as well, and hope that folks will keep this conversation moving forward!

We'll also be looking to this list to see what kinds of environmental monitoring tools we can assemble so that inexpensive/DIY options exist. Please let us know what's missing!

Emergency Response Needs (Methods, Tools, Resources)

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• Advance Planning for transportation needs
• Know how to MacGyver with duct tape
• Know how to use and repair durable medical equipment
• Create paper backups of phone trees and ways to contact people
• Mutual Aid: know what skills and resources exist in your neighborhood.
• Resource Mapping (in general)
• Community Tool Sharing
• How to use plants: medicinal uses, food, natural mosquito repellent.
• Have methods for community organizing / conducting meetings
• Setting up communications plans and resources (mesh networks, satellite phones, other)
• Bio Remediation Tools
• Evacuation plans: pets, children, elderly, mobility impaired, etc.
• Soylent (or efficient and lasting emergency food supplies in general)
• Super Glue, duct tape, wire cutters, batteries, head lamps, etc.
• Creation of rescue teams, with knowledge and skill to intervene without endangering self/others.
• How to asses building safety/integrity/water damage (mold)
• How to start a fire
• Conflict de-escalation skills
• How to perform mental measurements
• Disaster reporting: financial, environmental concerns, baseline reports
• Self Help/resource guides. things you might have in your home that serve dual purposes.
• Microbial tests for water (for drinking/bathing/etc)
• DIY water filtration kits
• DIY water remediation kits
• Solar power generators for communications, chargers, cooking, heating water, etc
• Having access to medications (including morning after pills)
• Waterproof containers of various sorts
• Bleach for sterilizing
• General sanitation tools
• Oil detection (soil and water).
• Disposable cameras (in case phones/electricity are unavailable)
• N95 maks
• Ham radio networks
• How to skills, especially for electronics (assembly, programming)
• DIY refrigeration
• Construction skills
• Hotwiring vehicles
• Safe removal/disposal of hazardous materials.

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This project is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.