🌐 Inter-Pod & Regional Coordination

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Why It Matters

No single pod can handle large-scale raids, multi-day protests, or natural disasters alone.
Linking pods with trusted communications, shared resources, and fallback agreements ensures the network stays operational and resilient.

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What You'll Learn

1. Regional Pod Mapping – Identifying pods, trusted partners, and support zones across your region.
2. Trust-Building Protocols – Using slow trust practices and verification to avoid infiltration or extractive dynamics.
3. Fallback Coordination – Establishing shared staging areas, housing, and resupply networks.
4. Cross-Pod Comms – Using encrypted channels, radios, or offline networks to link pods securely.
5. Load Balancing – How to distribute volunteers and resources during overlapping incidents.
6. Reciprocal Agreements – Drafting simple, clear expectations and trust protocols with other pods.

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Trust-Building & Verification

• Start small: Test collaborations with low-risk exchanges (supply runs, shared medics) before deep integration.
• Verify contacts: Cross-check new pods via two trusted references before adding to secure networks.
• Balance power: Avoid extractive dynamics by tracking resource and labor flows between large and small pods.

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Quick Action Steps

1. Maintain a private contact list of regional pods (encrypted digital + paper backup).
2. Pre-designate fallback staging and supply points for major incidents.
3. Use multi-channel comms (Signal, LoRa, radios) with clear protocols for backups.
4. Draft Reciprocal Agreements (MOUs) so everyone knows expectations and limits in advance.
5. Run at least one regional drill per year (communications, staging, load balancing).

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Sample Reciprocal Agreement (Outline)

• Resource Sharing: Define what each pod can offer in emergencies (medical, food, housing).
• Comms Protocols: List primary and backup channels for urgent alerts.
• Boundaries: Clarify what’s not guaranteed (bail funds, legal defense).
• Trust Practices: Agree on cross-verification and reporting suspicious behavior.
• Duration: Review and renew every 6–12 months.

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Crisis Simulation (Practice Exercise)

"Scenario: A raid disables three pods in your region. Using your pod map:

1. Identify fallback supply and housing points.
2. Assign pods to host displaced members.
3. Activate backup comms channels.
4. Redistribute volunteer pools to cover uncovered areas."

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Load Balancing Guidelines

• Triage by urgency and capacity: Focus first on life-safety and time-sensitive calls.
• Maintain a cross-trained volunteer pool: Keep a list of members who can deploy to support overwhelmed pods.
• Document requests and responses: Prevent double coverage or missed needs.

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When NOT to Coordinate

• If a pod is under active surveillance or infiltration, pause formal links until cleared.
• If coordination would expose sensitive community members, default to isolation.

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Risks & Things to Watch

• Over-sharing can expose pods to infiltration or surveillance.
• Poor planning can cause resource depletion or burnout.
• Trust takes time — do not shortcut verification, even during crises.

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How This Connects

• Required for Pod Leadership & Organizing Track.
• Required for Logistics & Mutual Aid Operations Track.
• Complements Advanced Logistics & Resource Planning and Training the Trainers.

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Checklist

• Can map trusted pods and support zones across a region.
• Can establish and maintain secure, redundant comms.
• Can coordinate fallback staging and resource sharing.
• Has at least one active Reciprocal Agreement with another pod.
• Has participated in at least one regional simulation or drill.

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Example Regional Pod Map (ASCII Sample)

Color Key

• Blue = Encrypted Communications
• Green = Shared Training
• Orange = Fallback Supplies