23.12 Reliable information and rumors

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In a prolonged collapse information is scarce and rumors fill the void: "the power comes back tomorrow," "they are going to cut the water off for good," "they are giving away generators at such-and-such place." A rumor can make you waste gasoline on a useless trip, drink untreated water, or fail to leave in time.

Primary sources: local AM/FM radio, NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts, your city or county alert system, official accounts of your city and county, your electric or gas company, your water utility, the grid operator, your local National Weather Service office, and FEMA.
Two-source rule: do not act on something you only saw in a message group. Confirm it with an official source.
Date and time: note when and where each piece of information came from on the complex's whiteboard.
FEMA publishes a rumor response page during large disasters (fema.gov, "Rumor Response" section). Be wary of anyone who asks for money or personal data "so the aid can reach you." FEMA assistance is free.
Save battery: check the news at fixed times (for example, 8 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m.), not all day. Communications without cell service are in chapter 19.