One of the tools that we've had for a very long time but which is often overlooked is NNTP. It's an excellent way to move information around under exactly these circumstances: low bandwidth, lossy connections -- and intermittent connectivity, limited resources, etc.
Nearly any laptop/desktop has enough computing capacity to run an NNTP server and depending on the quantity of information being moved around, it's not at all out of the question to do exactly that, so that every laptop/desktop (and thus every person) has their own copy right there, thus enabling them to continue using it in the absence of any connectivity. Also note that bi- or unidirectional NNTP/SMTP gateways are useful. It's not fancy, but anybody who demands fancy at a time like this is an idiot. It *works*, it gets the basics done, and thanks to decades of development/experience, it holds up well under duress. ---rsk
