Marion Mesh: Stay Connected When the Grid Fails | Gainesville News

Gainesville News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 12, 2026 · 1m

When the power goes out and cell towers fail, Marion County’s got a secret weapon: Marion Mesh. This DIY radio network, powered by Meshtastic tech, lets neighbors stay connected without the internet—using solar-powered devices that form a self-healing web. Led by Mark Weible of the Marion Baptist Association, the project aims to ensure everyone can communicate during disasters. Community meetups welcome all skill levels, with devices even being placed at churches to expand coverage. Join the next meetup on September 5th and help build a resilient, neighbor-to-neighbor communication system…