by Julie Tuggle-Hguyen
When a natural disaster hits home, small businesses are uniquely positioned to make a meaningful difference. We are often closer to our communities, more connected to our teams, and better able to mobilize quickly than larger, more bureaucratic organizations.
The May 16 tornado that tore through parts of St. Louis was a stark reminder that in times of crisis, leadership matters — and it begins with taking care of your people. While this article is rooted in that experience, the lessons apply to any unexpected event — from floods and fires to power outages and other unexpected disruptions — that can suddenly shake a business, a team, or a community.
Step 1: Take Care of Your Own “House”
When disaster strikes, your first job as a leader is to check on your people. At Midwest BankCentre, managers immediately reached out to their teams. I personally visited the branches where we had team members impacted. I asked them, “Are you ok? What do you need?” Those personal check-ins meant the world to our employees.
Here’s how to support your internal team after a disaster:
- Reach out individually. Don’t assume. Call, text, visit. Ask if they or their loved ones were impacted.
- Get a full picture. Find out what they need. Some employees may not have lost their homes, but are now caring for displaced family or friends. That’s an impact too.
- Offer resources and flexibility.
- Paid time off to manage recovery.
- Emergency financial assistance.
- Access to financial coaching or planning partners.
- Mental health counseling through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Support from your 401(k) or benefits providers.
Once you know exactly what your team’s needs are, make sure they know what help is available and how to access it. The more stable your team feels, the more they can begin to recover — and eventually, help others.
Step 2: Expand Your Impact to the Community
Once your team is steady, widen your lens. Your business likely has relationships in the community that can be activated for greater good.
For example, our long-time client and partner, Friendly Temple Church, was heavily impacted by the tornado. Their congregation and surrounding neighborhood were hit hard. We partnered directly with church leaders to funnel resources where they were most needed, including volunteering, donation drives, and financial relief products.
Here are ways your business can make a broader impact:
- Leverage community partnerships. Identify nonprofits, churches, or schools already active in relief efforts and join them. Do you have a vendor, supplier, or client who could help amplify your impact?
- Empower your team to help.
- Offer paid volunteer time.
- Organize a team volunteer day or drive.
- Consider a campaign like our Bank’s “Give Joy” event: simple, direct acts of kindness that lift spirits in affected areas.
- Promote the resources you offer. If your business has services or products that could help, make them visible. We’re communicating directly with tornado victims about emergency assistance loans that have flexible repayment terms so they can focus on rebuilding.
The Importance of a Structured Response
Good intentions alone aren’t enough. Your disaster response needs a leader and a plan. Here are a few guiding questions:
- Who is coordinating your efforts? Assign someone to plan, deploy, monitor, and adjust as needed.
- How are you communicating internally and externally? Keep your team informed. Use email, meetings, social media, whatever it takes to stay connected.
- Are your efforts having the intended impact? Step back periodically to assess: Are we still helping in the most meaningful way? Be flexible and ready to shift as needs change.
Remember: The Human Touch is Everything
Never underestimate the power of human connection. Show up. Sit with people. Look them in the eye and listen. When someone’s in a crisis, what they often need most is to know someone cares.
As a business leader, you have that power. In moments like these, our teams and our communities need us to be present, compassionate, and willing to lead with heart.
You can’t do everything, but you can do something. And that something, however small, can make a real difference when people need it most.
Julie Tuggle-Nguyen is Chief Human Resources Officer at Midwest BankCentre.