Community-Led Communication Networks Amidst Climate Instability

• Persistent communication failures during major storms leave vulnerable communities without essential support systems.
• The SwampNet project in New Orleans demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can build autonomous digital infrastructure for disaster resilience.

The Vulnerability of Mainstream Infrastructure

• Communication networks are consistently among the first systems to collapse during extreme weather events.
• When phones go dark, communities are disconnected from mutual aid and official recovery support, defining a core challenge in disaster response.
• Historical analysis of Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Sandy (2012), and Ida (2021) shows a recurring pattern of infrastructure failure and community-led adaptation.

Grassroots Connectivity Initiatives

• SwampNet, established in 2023, creates alternative, community-stewarded communication channels to archive and share emergency information in Bvlbancha (New Orleans) and the Gulf South.
• These initiatives function as more than just temporary fixes; they represent a proactive approach to building local resilience on community terms.
• The project is part of a broader global effort led by the LocNet initiative to address the intersection of socio-environmental justice and community-centred connectivity.