Offline maps & route planning
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Save maps before service fails, write down your destination and at least one alternative, and check the actual route against current hazards. An offline map does not show live closures, fighting, damaged bridges or flooding. GPS position may still work without data, but accuracy and battery life are not guaranteed.
Save the essentials.
Free downloads. No signup. Save the checklist or use Print full guide to save this page as a PDF before service fails.
Act on immediate danger. Seek qualified help when reachable and safe, but do not make your first protective step depend on a response. This page is general guidance, not a live alert.
Do now.
- 01
Download before the outage
Use the map app’s offline feature for the whole journey, not just the destination. Test it with mobile data off.
- 02
Keep a paper backup
Write addresses, landmarks, route choices and emergency contacts. Carry a paper map if available.
- 03
Check route suitability
Consider flood zones, damaged structures, access needs and transport restrictions. The fastest app route is not necessarily the safest.
- 04
Conserve device power
Reduce unnecessary screen use and keep a power bank available. Know how to view the downloaded map without needing a new connection.
- 05
Reassess as conditions change
Stop in a safe place to compare the route with visible conditions and recent trusted reports. Do not enter an uncertain road simply because the map displays it.
PLAN AROUND WHAT YOU HAVE
If help is unavailable.
Use known routes and written landmarks while checking conditions from safe positions. If you cannot identify a safe onward route, reassess rather than consuming the last battery on repeated rerouting.
People & practical needs.
Assign a trusted adult to each person who needs assistance. Keep medicines, essential contacts and a workable reunion plan with the group. Make decisions around the least mobile person, not the fastest; avoid splitting the family without a clear, safe way to reconnect.
Keep essentials within reach
Keep essential medicines, safe drinking water, a battery light, footwear, phone power and written contacts accessible. Carry only what you can manage; collecting supplies must not delay escape.
Next steps.
Practise following a short route with the backup information. Include a destination you can reach on foot only if that is realistic for the household and conditions.
Watch for.
Maps and position tools are aids, not proof of safe passage. Avoid unfamiliar shortcuts through hazardous or recently fought-over ground.
Sources & context.
Osprey Zero combines source-based protective guidance with practical household planning. References provide context, not a promise of assistance. Some standards are U.S.-based; local risks, laws and services differ.
Updated 2026-10-02. Editorially reviewed against linked references; not independently certified by a subject-matter expert. Verify changing conditions through sources safe for you to contact.