In a recent edition of the Grounded Gazette, we shared that we launched a Discord server to centralize communication across the organization. That platform now serves as our primary space for conversation, coordination, learning, and decision making. We have public channels for anyone curious about Grounded Boots Relief, operational channels for volunteers, and private spaces for leadership and planning. The goal is to have fewer scattered messages, more clarity, and better one on one connection between people doing the work.

 

Alongside Discord, there are two additional tools we strongly recommend every volunteer download. These apps help us stay aligned in the field, reduce confusion, and operate more safely and efficiently, especially when cell service is limited or directions get fuzzy. 

What3Words solves a problem that traditional addresses cannot. It divides the entire world into ten foot by ten foot squares and assigns each square a unique combination of three words. Instead of trying to describe a location as “behind the third house past the curve near the creek,” we can share three precise words (ie: frustrate.assumed.funhouse) and arrive at the exact same spot. This is incredibly useful in rural areas, wooded properties, disaster zones, or anywhere an address does not tell the full story. For us, it means volunteers, equipment, and support reach the right location faster, with less back and forth.

 

Avenza helps us work smarter when we are off the pavement. It allows users to download maps directly to their phones and use GPS tracking even without cell service. This is especially helpful for navigating large properties, trails, floodplains, or remote areas where coverage drops out. With Avenza, we can see where we are, where others are working, and how to move through a site safely without guessing or relying on memory alone.

 

Together, these tools support the same goal as our Discord server: shared awareness. When everyone is using the same platforms, information moves faster, mistakes are reduced, and volunteers can focus on the work instead of troubleshooting logistics. Technology does not replace good judgment or experience, but when used well, it strengthens both.

 

As we continue refining how we operate, these tools help us stay connected, prepared, and effective. If you are volunteering with Grounded Boots Relief, downloading Discord, What3Words, and Avenza is one of the simplest ways to help us all stay on the same page.

We are excited to officially put our upcoming Gear Up & Game On event on the calendar. We are currently planning for February 21, with the option to extend into an overnight February 21–22 camping weekend. Even if the event remains a single day, a small group may still camp overnight as part of readiness testing.

 

Gear Up & Game On exists for one core reason: preparedness. This is where we set up camp, test equipment, and pressure check our systems in a controlled environment. We identify what works, what does not, and what needs improvement. Our gear and methods evolve constantly, so hands on testing is essential to staying effective in the field.

 

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about Grounded Boots Relief through direct, practical experience. We have also been invited to clear and maintain trails on the property in Burnsville, North Carolina, making this a great environment for skill building. For those interested in learning chainsaw operations, this is an ideal setting without the urgency or expectations that come with active deployments.

 

If you are interested in attending, we would love to have you join us. If you are considering camping, letting us know helps us plan logistics and safety appropriately.

 

To express interest or ask questions, please join our Discord and let us know if you plan to attend and whether you would like to camp with us.

  A 10 Day Forecast Is Basically a Coin Flip
 Weather forecasts are about 90 percent accurate five days out and roughly 80 percent accurate at seven days. But once you hit ten days, accuracy drops to around 50 percent. That means long range forecasts are often no better than guessing heads or tails.
Source: NOAA.gov

  

Weather continues to be one of our least cooperative partners. Our January 3 volunteer day moved to January 10, and then quietly slid into January 11, which is likely the day you are reading this. Forecasts promised a dramatic storm on the 3rd. What we got was a light drizzle and disappointment. Weather remains essential to our work and deeply committed to ruining calendars.

 

As you read this, there is a strong chance we are in Edneyville with chainsaws, clearing timber so “Trisha” (a pseudonym, because privacy) can move her mobile home back onto her property.

 

Assuming the sky cooperates, we also have another volunteer workday coming up this Saturday in Hendersonville. We will be clearing a waterway of fallen and cut timber, the kind of quiet prevention that keeps small problems from becoming big ones.

 

On a much brighter note, we are grateful to share that Grounded Boots Relief has received a new donation from the Unitarian Universalists of Hendersonville. I have been meeting with local faith leaders and community groups to explain our mission and where needs still exist. These conversations matter. Sometimes support appears immediately. Sometimes it shows up later, right when it is needed most.

 

If your church or organization would benefit from a conversation like this, I am always happy to meet. You never know when being the connector turns into a relationship that helps get someone home faster, safer, or with a little less stress.