If there is any person and position that I have a heart for, it is the small-town mayor who’s city has just been the epicenter of a disaster like the tornadoes that recently impacted the state of Mississippi.
These are just good folk who stepped up to provide some leadership to their towns of perhaps only a few thousand people. Many times, these mayors are also business owners in the community. They are involved with many different aspects of the town that can span the government function, business associations, rotary, church, etc.
Then, disaster strikes and they are expected to lead and help, most of the time with very few resources. Their own homes and businesses might have been impacted by the same storms that tore apart their neighbors’ homes and businesses.
It is not what they signed up for, but most stay the course and do what they can do to help their communities. These leaders do what they have been called upon to do, to the best of their ability. I take my hat off to them and all that they do!
Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.
