Leading After the Storm

Disaster doesn't wait for your plan. But with clarity, compassion, and coordination-you can lead anyway.
In Leading After the Storm, award-winning leadership strategist Dr. Karissa Thomas offers a transformative guide for leaders navigating the aftermath of disaster-whether natural, institutional, or deeply personal. Written with emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and practical wisdom, this book equips readers with the tools to stabilize their teams, foster psychological safety, and rebuild trust when everything feels uncertain.
Drawing from global frameworks, cross-sector leadership experience, and community-based resilience strategies, Dr. Thomas addresses the real human dynamics that emerge when systems collapse: stress overload, miscommunication, fractured trust, and leadership burnout. With grounded insight and compelling case examples, she walks you through:- Communicating clearly and compassionately in high-pressure situations- Calming emotionally overwhelmed teams and communities- Coordinating resources, decisions, and cross-sector partnerships amid chaos- Leading with presence when disaster fatigue and leadership exhaustion are high- Integrating local knowledge, cultural humility, and inclusive leadership practices- Sustaining hope and rebuilding capacity in both short- and long-term recovery
Each chapter offers practical tools, real-world leadership moments, and reflective prompts that make this book ideal for emergency responders, nonprofit leaders, school administrators, local officials, and grassroots organizers. Whether you're navigating a flood, a public health crisis, or the slow erosion of public trust, Leading After the Storm will meet you where you are-with the voice of calm, connection, and courage.
Includes:
Case examples from Puerto Rico, India, and South Africa
A leadership framework that blends emotional regulation with coordination tools
Printable training tools and a glossary for use in workshops and field teams
You don't have to be perfect to lead after the storm. You just have to show up-with clarity, care, and the willingness to listen.