Every Community Deserves a Voice After Disaster
When traditional media leaves and information becomes fragmented, communities need trusted local voices.
Disaster Voices Lab trains disaster survivors, nonprofits, and community leaders to build local media networks using a smartphone, tripod, hotspot, and internet connection.
Community Media as Infrastructure
**Disaster Voices Lab prepares communities to become their own trusted source of information during disasters.** Through training, certification, and deployable communications kits, we help local teams activate quickly, share verified updates, connect people to resources, and preserve the stories of recovery.
**Because disasters are inevitable. Being unprepared to communicate doesn't have to be.**
Disaster Voices Lab is a nonprofit initiative that helps communities create and operate local media networks before, during, and after disasters.
Using affordable technology and proven workflows developed during the Eaton Fire recovery, communities learn how to:
Deliver critical information, Conduct live broadcasts, Interview local leaders, Promote recovery resources, Coordinate nonprofits, Share verified updates, Preserve community trust
Smartphone: Broadcast from anywhere
Tripod: Create professional content
Hotspot: Stay connected during outages
YouTube Channel: Build a trusted information hub
Social Media: Reach your community instantly
Training Platform: Learn proven recovery communication methods
MORE INFO
Step 1: Learn the Framework
Step 2: Build Your Media Hub
Step 3: Grow Community Trust
Step 4: Activate During Crisis
Step 5: Help Communities Recover
When disaster strikes, communities are often left navigating delayed updates, conflicting information, and broken communication channels.
Disaster Voices Lab was created to close that gap.
Born from real-world recovery work, this initiative shows how local media can become a trusted alert and resource system—guiding residents to food, housing, financial assistance, and recovery pathways while preserving community voice and accountability.
This is not theory.
This is a working model.
The Altadena Talks Case Study
Disaster Voices Lab was born from the real-world experience of Altadena Talks, a community-led media network created in response to the Eaton Fire and the recovery efforts that followed.
Using simple, accessible tools and a commitment to serving the community, Altadena Talks became a trusted source of information, resources, and recovery updates when residents needed it most.
What Altadena Talks Demonstrated:
• A smartphone can become a community newsroom
• Local voices can deliver trusted information faster than traditional media
• Community media can connect residents to food, housing, financial assistance, legal resources, and recovery services
• Consistent communication helps reduce confusion and misinformation during a crisis
• A small team can build a powerful local media network with limited resources
• Every community deserves a trusted voice before, during, and after disaster
Through hundreds of broadcasts, interviews, community meetings, and recovery updates, Altadena Talks proved that community media is more than storytelling. It is critical communication infrastructure.
Disaster Voices Lab exists to help communities across the country build their own disaster media networks before the next crisis strikes.
Understand how disaster recovery media works through guided learning and real-world examples.
Apply the framework to your city or region using tools, templates, and peer support.
When disaster strikes, your media system is already in place—ready to alert and guide.
Communities learn from each other, improving response city to city.
Community podcasters and local media makers
Nonprofit leaders and organizers
Food justice and mutual aid groups
Disaster response communicators
Cities preparing for future emergencies
If your community needs clarity, coordination, and voice—this is for you.
Disaster Voices Lab operates through a private Skool community where members access training, playbooks, live office hours, and city-to-city collaboration.
The website explains the mission.
The community does the work.
Community voice over clout
Accuracy over speed
Service over self-promotion
Collaboration over competition
Media as public service
Sarah Johnson
October 12, 2025
We really appreciate with DVL has taught us in times of crises. Not sure where to start was the main focus on why I wanted to learn as much as I could to help my community
Daniel Kim
February 28, 2025
“The equipment and training spaces are excellent. Everything is modern and well-maintained, which makes every workout comfortable and enjoyable.”
Emily Carter
March 5, 2025
“The coaches here are fantastic—knowledgeable, supportive, and always ready to push me to do my best. I’ve improved our knowledge on the various subjects that were needed to know.”
Michael Lopez
May 18, 2025
By becoming a trusted voice in my community it also kept families together and informed. Without Disaster Voices Lab, I wouldnt have the jumpstart I needed.
Anna Schmidt
July 10, 2025
“Every time I come here, I feel energized. The atmosphere is so positive, and everyone motivates each other—it makes training fun.”
James Patel
August 2, 2025
“The community events are highlights for me. They’re organized so well and really bring people together, and keep us coming back to the town we've grown to love.”
