Day Zero questions and answers
Is there a survival guide for an AI crisis? What happens if the internet goes down? What to store, how long, what is realistic: plain answers.
In short
Short, honest answers to what people ask us most. Each links to the full guide.
About Day Zero
What is Day Zero?
The part of Toswo that explains what to do if an AI-related crisis gets out of control and takes away the systems we depend on. See why Day Zero exists.
Is there a survival guide for an AI catastrophe?
Yes, this one. It is written for the AI-related case but the steps (water, shelter, food, medicine, communication, rebuilding knowledge) apply to any long outage. Start with if an AI crisis gets out of control.
Is an AI crisis likely?
Nobody knows. Experts disagree. The severe cases are hypothetical today; smaller disruptions already happen. We track them on the monitor.
Is this fear-mongering?
We try not to be. We make no prediction, and we say plainly what is hypothetical. Preparation here is cheap and useful for many kinds of emergency.
Why does an AI centre publish survival guides?
Because a group that tells people when AI systems fail should also say what to do when the failure is serious. It is a response plan for the worst case of what we monitor.
Is this a prepper site?
No. It is a calm, sourced plan with honest limits. Read how the guides are reviewed.
If something happens
What should I do first if power and networks fail?
Check people, secure water, stay warm and dry, and find your household and neighbours. Full list: the first 72 hours.
How much water do I need?
About 4 litres per person per day for drinking and cooking. See the first 7 days.
How do I purify water without power?
Boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 2000 m), or filter and add unscented household bleach (2 drops per litre, wait 30 minutes). See the first 7 days.
How do I stay informed if the internet is down?
A battery or hand-crank radio, local notice boards and messengers. See communication offline and finding other groups.
What if hospitals are not available?
Learn first aid beforehand. Our medicine guide, disease and quarantine and childbirth guide cover the basics. They do not replace a doctor.
What about money and payments?
Keep some cash in small notes and a few trade goods. See what to store and the first 30 days.
Preparing
What should I store?
Water, light, warmth, food for a month, first-aid kit, tools, seeds and an offline library, built in 8 steps: what to store.
How much food should I keep?
A month is a sensible first goal; extend it later. Eat and rotate it so it never expires.
Which seeds should I keep?
Open-pollinated varieties suited to your climate: beans, peas, grains, roots, greens and herbs. The list and storage rules are in what to store and climate and region.
How do I read files without the internet?
Install Kiwix and open the ZIM files; power the device with a small solar panel. See reading the archive without the grid and the offline hub.
What should I download?
The monthly kit on Downloads: offline Wikipedia, medical references, science and engineering, maps, repair skills, teaching material. Keep two copies in two places.
Can I print the guides?
Yes: the printable booklet has every essential guide in one document.
How can I practise?
Run the weekend drill once a year.
Rebuilding
Can an offline archive rebuild civilisation?
It can teach and guide, but not replace skills, tools and industry. See the rebuild path.
Can engineers be trained from the archive?
Foundations, yes, with practice and teachers. See the curriculum.
How do groups stay together?
Fair rules, shared work and honest records: teamwork and rules and justice.
What about my mental health?
About these guides
Are the guides medically reviewed?
Not yet by a named professional. We say so on every page and invite corrections. See how these guides are reviewed.
Is there something similar elsewhere?
Parts of it. See how Day Zero compares with other resources.
Is it free?
Yes. The guides and downloads are free; cite with attribution (how to cite).