As the havoc of Hurricanes Helene and Milton continue to disrupt communities throughout the Southeast, city and county managers in the storm's paths are transitioning from the initial shock of rescue response to the daunting challenges of long-term community recovery. The emotional, mental, and physical demands on municipal leaders are overwhelming. The trauma is real, and the responsibilities are immense. Both personally and professionally, managers are struggling to balance their leadership roles with the toll these disasters are taking on their teams, communities, and themselves.

In times like these, the pressure can feel unbearable. However, there are steps you can take to lead effectively while caring for your own mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being—and that of your employees and community. 

1. Recognize and Accept the Layers of Stress

The burden of leadership during and after a disaster is multifaceted. You are responsible for your family, your staff, and your community. This layered stress can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, anxiety, and even despair. Becoming aware of and acting from that place of awareness of what you can and cannot control is crucial in reducing stress.

Prioritize: Remember to put your oxygen mask on first. 

• Focus on your personal immediate needs, as well as your family and the community. 
• Delegate effectively: Trust your team and empower team members to handle tasks within their areas of expertise. 
• Control what you can: Recognize that certain factors—such as the scale of the destruction or the limited resources at your disposal—are beyond your control. Letting go of what you can’t manage conserves your energy for the things that you can.

2. Take Care of Yourself: Mind, Body, and Spirit

Leading through multiple disasters, like Helene and Milton, or even single crisis events are essentially long-term challenges.  Without proper self-care, your ability to lead will be compromised.  Prioritize your own well-being in order that you may continue to serve your community effectively.  You will be working very hard and long hours but you must take short breaks to prevent yourself from burnout. 

• Sleep and rest: Dealing with exhaustion will weaken your decision-making and compromise your immune system. Make sure to get regular sleep and take breaks.
• Move your body: Physical movement releases stress, clears your mind, and gives you the stamina needed for ongoing leadership.
• Mindfulness and spiritual care: Engage in meditation, prayer, or spiritual companionship. Quick grounding practices and EFT (emotional freedom technique) What Is Eft Tapping? How To Do It and Benefits (clevelandclinic.org) also known as tapping can help to center you during these chaotic times. 
• Talk to someone you trust: ICMA’s coaching network CoachConnect One-on-One Coaching with ICMA CoachConnect | icma.org or local chaplains are resources you can lean on.
• Journaling is an effective way to process your thoughts and emotions as well as unburden your mind.  Writing serves to clear out noise in your mind to make room for clear thinking and decision making.
• Just Breathe

3. Support Your Team: Create Space for Authenticity and Emotions

Your team is also under immense pressure. They’re grappling with the trauma of possible loss of life of those close to them, damage to their homes or the homes of their loved ones and overall storm damage while trying to stay functional at work. Creating a safe and supportive environment for employees to express their emotions is essential for long-term recovery.

• Provide access to mental health resources:  Ensure employee assistance programs (EAP) or therapists are available to help employees cope with trauma.
• Acknowledge emotions: Create space for your team to express their stress, grief, and anxiety. Normalize conversations around mental health and make it clear that these emotions are a natural response to the crisis.
• Clarify roles and responsibilities: During disasters, every role matters. Clarity ensures that each team member can focus on their tasks, reducing burnout and confusion.

4. Community Healing: Rituals and Rebuilding Together

Beyond the physical recovery, communities impacted by Helene and Milton will need emotional and spiritual healing. Disasters with mass casualties and extensive destruction require community-wide support.

• Host community memorial events:  Rituals of remembrance and reflection allow the community to process loss and come together in grief and healing.
• Offer mental health resources:  Encourage community members to seek support from mental health providers or spiritual leaders. Chaplains can play a crucial role in addressing collective trauma.
• Foster civic hope: Highlight stories of resilience and recovery. Remind your community that together, they have the strength to rebuild. Civic hope and shared humanity will be key in inspiring long-term resilience.

5. Leading Through the Fog: Decision-Making Under Pressure

In the aftermath of these disasters, city and county managers must make swift, high-stakes decisions with little information. This can be extremely stressful, but a few guiding principles can help:

• Pause and assess: Take a moment to assess the situation before making decisions. Even a brief pause can provide clarity and prevent impulsive choices.
• Stay nimble: Be ready to adapt as situations change. Recovery from any disaster requires flexibility, as plans will inevitably shift with evolving circumstances.
• Give yourself grace: Mistakes will happen. You are making decisions in real time with the best information you have. Hindsight offers clarity, but in the moment, trust your judgment.

6. Remember: You Are Not Alone

It’s easy to feel isolated under the weight of leadership during a disaster but remember that you have support. Tap into your network, rely on your team, and leverage the resources ICMA provides.

Coaching and mentorship:  ICMA offers a coaching network and an ethics line to guide managers through difficult decisions.

Spiritual support: Reach out to chaplains or spiritual leaders for emotional and spiritual grounding. Seek companionship from those who can provide a listening ear and help you process your feelings.

Stay connected to friends and family: People who know you outside of your professional life can provide much needed insight, perspective, and support. 

7.       Disasters Offer an Invitation to Reframe Crisis as an Opportunity

Hurricanes Helene and Milton will leave indelible marks on the communities they touch, and the leaders at the forefront of recovery will be changed as well. Although it may not seem like it now, these experiences, offer an opportunity for growth. And though you may never forget the experience of the destruction of the community you serve, you will also witness incredible acts of resilience, solidarity, and hope in that same community as you work together to rebuild.

Every day presents an opportunity to lead with compassion, strength, and wisdom. These moments can be formative in shaping your leadership, your community’s identity, and your own personal growth. While the road to recovery is long, together, you and your community will rebuild and you will emerge stronger for it.