From Emergency to Execution
How EDOs Can Lead Smart, Compliant Disaster Recovery with AI Workflows
The Day the Hill Country Wouldn’t Stop Flooding
Day 3. Kerrville, Texas.
The air was thick—muggy and heavy with the smell of wet cedar. Intermittent rain kept hammering the Hill Country, and search-and-rescue teams had just been pulled out of the river after another flash-flood warning.
Inside the Salvation Army social-services center, it felt like a shaken beehive: towers of clothing donations leaned precariously, trays of food lined every surface, and volunteers surged in and out faster than anyone could track.
Through that din, an older, slightly scruffy gentleman pushed through the door. Shoulders squared, eyes glassy. Upset. Maybe angry. Definitely determined.
I stepped toward him, extended my hand.
“I’m Katie. What’s your name, sir?”
We ducked into a quieter back room. He told me he’d driven hours to help but kept being turned away. Then his voice cracked:
“Ma’am, I’m not leaving. I lost my son in a flood like this. I’m here to help whether you give me permission or not.”
That moment is seared into me. It wasn’t about credentials or official plans—it was about agency, urgency, and love for community.
Eight Days of Chaos and Improvisation
From July 5 onward, I spent eight straight days on the ground as Hill Country floods upended lives and livelihoods. I sorted supplies, calmed tempers, and—crucially—activated a network of 13 “keyboard warriors” who volunteered remotely within an hour of my social-media call.
These virtual helpers were already AI-fluent, so I could assign tasks with minimal instruction and know they would execute close to the ideal goal. That trust was priceless when every minute counted.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth I carried home after the waters receded:
Most communities—including well-intentioned economic development organizations (EDOs)—have disaster-response plans that are stale, untested, or missing altogether.
Staff turnover, outdated contacts, and procedural gaps turn chaos into crisis.
Even with heroic local effort, relief work leans on improvisation. And improvisation breaks under pressure.
Reflection → A System Any Leader Can Use
When I finally stepped back after Day 8, I did what AI does best: codified the chaos.
Drawing on my AI Performance School toolkit, I built nine plug-and-play AI workflows any civic leader can run in an afternoon to create—or refresh—a disaster-response plan that’s practical, compliant, and funder-ready.
Why AI?
Because it shortens the distance between what you know needs doing and getting it done.
Even leaders with minimal AI experience can drop these workflows into place and have a first-iteration plan before dinner.
The 9 Workflows: From Panic to Prepared
Each workflow is pre-built inside the AI Workflow Professional (AIWP) toolkit and designed for economic developers and civic professionals:
- Corporate Strategy Roadmap – Align recovery goals with long-term economic strategy so actions aren’t scattershot.
- MVP Validation Report – Pilot new tools (intake forms, triage systems) quickly and gather real feedback from affected businesses.
- Multi-Channel Launch Plan – Coordinate consistent messaging across agencies, chambers, and media.
- Lead Conversion SOP – Create a repeatable intake/follow-up system for businesses and donors.
- Process Redesign Proposal – Reduce duplication and streamline cross-agency coordination.
- Buddy/Mentor Program Outline – Pair seasoned business leaders with those navigating recovery.
- Zero-Based Budgeting Plan – Tie every relief dollar to specific outcomes and full transparency.
- Contract Approval Workflow – Formalize vendor selection and scopes to stay compliant.
- Compliance Gap Analysis – Identify and close policy or documentation blind spots before auditors do.
Run them once and you have a fresh, credible plan.
Run them annually and you have resilience on tap.
Why This Matters for EDOs and Civic Pros
Economic developers are often first to mobilize for local businesses after floods, fires, or plant closures.
But without a repeatable system, they risk:
- Inconsistent intake and follow-up
- Unclear donation documentation
- Fragmented communication
- Legal gray areas and compliance risk
- Staff burnout from manual, round-the-clock coordination
This 9-workflow system flips that script—helping you act faster, protect your organization, and build lasting trust with donors and partners.
Your Call to Agency
Back to that gentleman in the back room.
He wasn’t waiting for a consultant’s 18-month study.
He showed up and declared, “I’m here to help whether you give me permission or not.”
That’s the kind of quiet courage our communities need.
As Hill Country families continue rebuilding, my heart stays with those who lost loved ones and with the volunteers still working long after headlines fade. May their resilience remind us that preparedness isn’t just logistics—it’s an act of care.
If you’re a civic or economic development leader and want to make sure your own community is ready—before the next storm, fire, or plant closure—I’d love to help you adapt these nine AI-supported workflows to your unique context.
Book a call with me here to gain access to the complete workflow set.