FFTAC / SURVIVEResilience & Prevention Program

PRESERVE THE SOURCE

Build a community Source Ark

A Source Ark protects original materials, context, correction history and the ability to retrieve vital knowledge offline. It is not a secret repository of other people’s private data.

The minimum viable archive

  1. Choose a small topic with permission to preserve and share: emergency contacts, service directories, an open local guide or a Circle charter.
  2. Store the original file unchanged; separately add a human-readable copy.
  3. Record title, author or issuing organization, source URL, capture date and license when known.
  4. Keep a change log distinguishing original statements, corrected errors and new interpretations.
  5. Make two separate backups; keep at least one offline and test that it actually restores.
  6. Include a plain-text index and an accessible printable version.
  7. Set a review date for time-sensitive claims such as phone numbers, opening hours and benefits eligibility.

A sample catalog entry

TITLE: Community cooling locations
SOURCE: Local authority / named source
URL: [official link]
CAPTURED: YYYY-MM-DD
REVIEWED: YYYY-MM-DD
FORMAT: PDF + plain text
ACCESS: public / permission checked
CORRECTION: corrected opening hours YYYY-MM-DD
OFFLINE COPY: checked YYYY-MM-DD

What not to archive publicly

Do not republish personal case files, private contact lists, medical records, account credentials, protected locations or information you lack permission to distribute. Hashes can help detect changes but do not prove a document is true.

Test the Ark

Ask someone unfamiliar with the archive to locate a needed source using only the index and offline copies. Record what failed. A backup that cannot be restored does not preserve the source.

Personal document guide →Records accountability →