How a season of unrest, empty shelves, and a challenge from a special operations veteran led to the creation of +MAP — a platform built for communities that refuse to be caught unprepared.
Back in the summer of 2020, it felt like the world was changing fast. Cities across the country were experiencing riots and unrest after the death of George Floyd. In Seattle, the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ/CHOP) became a symbol of what many people feared: areas without police presence, uncertainty about public safety, and growing instability.
At the same time, COVID lockdowns disrupted everyday life. Store shelves were empty. Supply chains broke down. People were arguing over toilet paper, food shortages, and basic necessities. Many Americans began asking themselves a question they had never seriously considered before: "If things get worse, am I actually prepared?"
Out of this time, many people in their communities started to form mutual assistance groups — trusted circles of neighbors, friends, and families vowing to be there for each other and work together to build resilience and self-reliance.
It was during this time that my group was formed.
What started as a handful of people committed to preparedness slowly grew into a real community. We trained together. Built plans together. Learned new skills together. Most importantly, we built trust.
The World Didn't Calm Down
Over the years, the world hasn't exactly calmed down. We've seen wars erupt overseas, continued supply chain disruptions, political violence, assassination attempts, natural disasters, and growing division in society. More people than ever feel uncertain about whether the systems around them will hold when pressure builds.
That is why it's so important to be able to take care of yourself, and be part of a community committed to doing the same. A tribe to help each other out — where you can build relationships and interact on a personal level, building trust, so when (not if) you need help, you've got people there. People ready and willing to come and support you and your family.
The Moment That Changed Everything
As our group evolved, we realized something important: most preparedness groups lacked structure. People had good intentions, but no clear plan. No accountability. No organized system for training, communication, or readiness tracking.
Then a highly experienced special operations veteran joined our group and challenged us directly: "You don't have a real operational plan." He was right.
That conversation became the catalyst for creating our Group Preparedness Plan — a structured framework for how a community prepares, trains, coordinates, and responds together during emergencies.
Over time, that framework evolved into what is now +MAP.
What +MAP Was Built to Do
+MAP was built to give communities the tools we wished we had from the beginning:
- Clear readiness plans
- Shared checklists
- Training scenarios
- Group accountability
- Skill tracking
- Automated reminders
- Mutual aid coordination
- Bite-sized preparedness education
Because preparedness shouldn't live in scattered PDFs, forgotten notes, or expensive books sitting on a shelf. It should live in your pocket. And it should help communities grow stronger together.
Ready to build resilience with your community?
Join the +MAP waitlist and be among the first to access the platform when we launch.
Join the waitlistThe guides are free. The platform makes them stick.
Most groups download a checklist and nothing changes. MAP gives your group the infrastructure to actually act on it — skill tracking, task assignment, event coordination, and a shared knowledge base your members can find offline.
- No more tracking member skills in a spreadsheet
- No more losing resources in group chats
- No more showing up to a crisis figuring it out for the first time
No spam. No pressure. Early access when we launch.