FAQ
FAQ
About A.N.T.S?
Americans Networking To Survive is a network of neighbors helping neighbors. Just as you would help your neighbor during a disaster, we support our members in the cities, towns, and states around us.
Our members are called ants, and we work together to provide other ants with basic supplies during disasters. We do this by relaying supply pods (five-gallon buckets) filled with emergency supplies to any member who needs them.
What are preppers?
A prepper is someone who prepares for disasters.
Why should a prepper want to join A.N.T.S?
Preppers are prepared, but emergency plans can go wrong. So to be fully prepared, you need to have backup plans. A.N.T.S should be one of those backup plans.
How do you join A.N.T.S?
Click "How to Join" and follow the instructions. It's easy to do, and you will receive a reply within 48 hours.
How does a member request supplies?
There are two ways to request supplies.
1. Make contact yourself. If you are caught in a disaster and need supplies, you can make a request for them in the A.N.T.S group or by sending a text to 704-858-7249.
2: Place an icon on the A.N.T.S map. If you have placed an icon on the A.N.T.S map and need supplies but cannot make contact, A member just outside of the disaster area will look for your distress marker. If contact is made, you give them a supply list.
Does the map compromise your OPSEC—operational security?
No, the map does not have to mark the location of your home. There are three options for placing an icon on the map.
1. You can place your icon on your street. If you use this method and get caught in a disaster and cannot contact the group, nearby members will search for you by looking on your street for a distress marker.
2. You can place your icon on any intersection in your city or town. If you use this method and get caught in a disaster and cannot contact the group, nearby members will search for you by looking at that intersection for a location markerthat will lead them to your distress marker.
3. You can choose not to place an icon. If you use this method and get caught in a disaster, nearby members will not look for you, so you will need to make contact yourself.
So, as you can see, there is no compromise. Each member decides what is right for them.
Why does A.N.T.S have level 1 and level 2 guidelines?
The guidelines are agreed-upon methods for working with each other.
Level one guidelines are for disasters in which people still have communication capabilities outside of a disaster area.
Level two guidelines are for a widespread disaster in which all communications, except for HAM radio, have been lost.
How do members volunteer?
Members are called ants, and they can volunteer for any of four ant jobs.
1: Camp Ant: manages base camp activities, goes out and finds distressed ants, and delivers supply pods. Also creates supply pod relay maps and requests supply pods from donor ants.
2: Com Ant: responsible for shortwave radio, cell, and Internet communications and may also place messages at drop points during a level two disaster.
3: Trail Ant: Goes out and finds distressed ants who need help if the camp ant is unable to do so. They report their status back to the camp ant and deliver supply pods.
4: Donor Ant: Provides and transfers supply pods, in a relay with other donor ants, to a camp ant.
Note: A distressed ant is a member that needs help.
What are map icons?
Map icons are used to mark the general location of members.
All icons are either blue or purple, depending on which one we are using at the time. The color changes every six months in order to identify inactive ants.
Other colors used:
Green is used to let other ants know that you are OK or available to volunteer.
Yellow is used by camp ants.
Red is used by distressed ants.
White is used to mark transfer points.
Blue Flag is used during disasters to mark locations that have been checked with no marker found.
What are distress markers?
Distress markers are used by distressed ants who are unable to contact the group.
There are two types:
1: The distress marker is placed at the entrance of a distressed ants' driveway and made out of sticks or other debris in the shape of the letter N. It stands for "needs supplies."
2: The location marker is used by distressed ants that do not want to put an icon on their street. It is placed at an intersection and made from a stone, rock, or brick. It has directions on the bottom that will lead the camp or trail ants to their location.
What are supply pods?
Supply pods are five-gallon buckets filled with basic supplies. We use buckets to protect the contents during transit and on-site from the weather. They can also be used for other things after the contents have been removed.
Having the same-size pods also helps donor ants figure out how many pods they can transport in their vehicles. The smallest vehicle in a relay dictates how many pods can be transported.
There are ten basic types of supply pods, but which pods, how many are sent, and what they will ultimately contain will depend on the type of disaster and what items are needed by the distressed ants.
The ten types are:
A water pod, which contains water bottles or pouches.
A food pod, which contains food.
A shelter pod, which can contain a tent or tools for making a temporary shelter,.
A bedding pod, which contains a sleeping bag, sheets, or covers.
A hygiene pod, which contains hygiene products, wash clothes, towels, etc.
A clothing pod, which contains requested clothing.
A cooking pod, which contains cooking and fire kits.
A medical pod, which contains medical supplies.
A baby pod, which contains baby supplies, formula, food, diapers, blankets, etc.
A sanitation pod, which contains sanitary, trash, and cleaning supplies
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Who came up with the idea for A.N.T.S?
Americans Networking To Survive was founded by Timothy French in 2010.
He came up with the idea for A.N.T.S while working along the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina but did not officially form the all-volunteer network until 2010, after the Haiti earthquake.
Will it take a long time to transport supplies across the country?
No, ants in California will not be helping ants in North Carolina. It will be your neighboring ants that come in to help. Supply routes start with the closest ants and only go out far enough to get the needed supplies.
How can you be sure other ants will help?
You cannot; you can only be sure that you will help. If every member looks at it this way, help will be there when needed.
Who is in charge?
We all are; we decide what we will and will not do. Each job is voluntary.
What is Antcomm?
Antcomm is your source for local disaster information.
Commants volunteer to go live during disasters using Zello, Periscope, Twitter, or Ham Radio.