Hard Times Can Galvanize a Community: Why Localism and "Small Ball" Matter Most in a Disaster

Wakulla County, Florida coastline as Hurricane Sally moves ashore 250 miles to the west at Gulf Shores, Alabama; September 16, 2020. Image source.

One of the basic tenets of Strong Towns is local reliance and responsibility. Chuck Marohn has spoken and written many times on why small, tactical projects; incremental improvements; and local “ownership” are better than relying on outside funding and large capital investments that create long-term liabilities. Acting locally builds resilience and improves a community’s quality of life in deeply meaningful ways.

Never is this truth more self-evident than when disaster strikes. Exhibit A is 2020 itself. In the midst of a pandemic, social unrest, fires, floods, and whatever else might come our way, it’s the local response—neighbors stepping up to help neighbors—that showcases the value of a strong, connected, responsive community.

Last week, Hurricane Sally hit Pensacola hard, and we are still struggling in the aftermath. We will be for a while.

To set the stage, this hurricane was unexpected. It was predicted to hit as a Category 1, but just before landfall, it strengthened to a strong Category 2. Even though Pensacola citizens are hurricane veterans and generally know what to do, this time we were blindsided. For the most part, there was no evacuation.

As two feet of rain drenched Pensacola, massive flooding took place. On Wednesday morning, we woke up to our new “hurricane-proof” Three-Mile Bridge severely damaged. Trees were down. Barges were stuck in people’s yards. It was a catastrophic scene. When you consider that we’re also in the middle of a pandemic with all the challenges it creates—medical, financial, emotional—it’s no wonder people are saying, “How much more can we take?”

It’s not easy to see the good in bad circumstances. But what I saw happening the morning after the hurricane shows me that the best things in life are the acts of kindness and assistance that happen locally. Within hours of daybreak, neighbors were checking on neighbors. Chainsaws roared to life as people worked to free people from blocked-in homes. Local businesses geared up to supply fresh water as a “boil water” notice was put in place.

People after being rescued by a Coast Guard response team near Navarre, Florida. Image source.

It’s great how in a crisis people who don’t normally pull together do pull together. Tragedies bring out this primal need in us to work as a group. We realize we need each other. That realization brings out the best in us. People don’t worry so much about what political party you’re in, or what your education level is, or what faith you practice. All that stuff goes away, even in times when there is a lot of divisiveness.

The power outage changed our behavior. People have spent more time outside, getting to know neighbors, helping each other, and doing things they don’t normally do. Neighbors become more than someone who lives nearby. They become fellow human beings, and there’s a sense that everyone is in this together.

So here’s the real question: As we recover from the crises life throws at us, how can we keep the good parts? How can we hold on to that better sense of neighborhood? How can we keep that better sense of collaboration and cooperation? Let’s all think about that as we move forward, and remember that we are better together and that we really do need each other.

Here are a few ways to stay galvanized after a crisis and keep the positive momentum going.

1. Know that localism and “small ball” matter most in hard times.

A shared crisis has a way of bringing people together and getting them laser-focused on fixing the problems that impact them in a very personal way. In hard times, it becomes apparent how big the “little things” really are. (Until a hurricane hits, you don’t know the value of a bottle of water or a drop cord!) Once you start to see the power of small things, you can use it in other ways to make your community better. A group of deeply invested people rowing in the same direction is a lot more powerful than solutions imposed from outside. The best people to solve local problems are the people who live there.

2. Find ways to leverage that powerful sense of connection and community that follows a crisis. 

If there is a “silver lining” in tough times, this is probably it. When people are in the mood to pull together, as we saw in Pensacola right after the hurricane hit, we need to give them common goals to work toward. Put that energy to good use to move forward as a community and create positive change. This may be a good time to make some small, incremental improvements—the kind of quick wins that build optimism and create buy-in.

3. Double down on supporting small businesses. 

In times like these, small business owners, especially, are deeply impacted. If there is ever a time to support local businesses, it’s now. In Pensacola, local businesses were already reeling from COVID-19 when Hurricane Sally came through. It’s like they’re in a boxing ring and keep getting punched, and it doesn’t take much to tip them over.

Here’s a great example of how it might unfold for a small business. Let’s say you own a nail salon. You already have less income due to COVID. Now, all your equipment is ruined because of the flood, and it’s going to be hard to get new equipment because of COVID shortages. Will your insurance cover anything? And if it does, what will it cover, and how long will it be before you get the money? These are the kinds of incredibly tough issues small businesses are facing. They need the support of citizens now more than ever. Remember, small businesses are our economic backbone. When we help them, we help the entire community.

4. Communication is everything.

In Pensacola, locals did a great job of keeping each other informed. This is a good lesson for all leaders. In a crisis, people are hungry for information. Knowing what to expect goes a long way toward easing anxiety, even if it’s bad news. In a community you might hear, “We have a major bridge out, and this is what you can expect,” or, “This is how long the power may be out.” In a business it might be, “We may have to furlough some people after the next quarter. Here is what you can expect.”

There’s a real art to communicating in a crisis, and transparency is a big piece of it. In fact, you might be interested in my upcoming Busy Leader’s Podcast, which will air Sept. 29. I will hold a conversation with Mark Clement on effectively communicating during hard times. We will discuss this subject in more of a business context, but the same truth applies in all sorts of organizations that make up a community.

5. Realize that people are traumatized. This will impact them for a while. 

Any community that goes through a hurricane knows that the power might be back on and the water may have receded, but the trauma will impact them long term. In business and in every area of life, trauma upends our usual way of coping. The old methods don’t work anymore. For some people, their lives will change forever. As community and business leaders, we need to be aware of this. We need to make decisions and communicate with this truth in mind.

The Coast Guard assisted Escambia County Emergency Management with search and rescue efforts on Inneratity Island, Florida checking on the local residents affected by Hurricane Sally. Image source.

6. Try to figure out what people really need.

Business can be instrumental here. Take a quick survey. Depending on their situation, everyone has different challenges. Some may need a different place to work if power is out at home. Some may need flex time to work around family issues. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Don’t assume. Ask.

7. Don’t underestimate the value of optimism in tough times. 

Back at the start of the pandemic, I wrote a column on what Churchill taught us about enduring hard times. During World War II, he truly made the British people believe they could endure the nearly unendurable. That’s what real optimism is. It’s realism mixed with hope. It’s telling people the tough truth while at the same time helping them see that they do have the strength to persevere and come out stronger on the other side.

The best way to get through a crisis is to look for things we can be grateful for. A connected and caring community is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Now that we have had the chance to get to know our neighbors better, let’s be sure to keep in touch. Let’s take the time to say thank-you for all their help and to really feel thankful. They are our village, our tribe, and the source of our strength. Community is what gets us through.

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