A once in a decade windstorm in late November 2024 caused widespread damage throughout Issaquah, WA. The bomb cyclone left thousands of people without power for days, caused road closures throughout the city due to fallen trees and scattered debris, and caused damage to homes and businesses. 

To respond to the needs of the community, the City of Issaquah had to get innovative. They opened multiple resiliency hubs to provide residents with food, showers, chargers, and connections to resources; they even invited local vendors to a mobile food truck rodeo as part of the response efforts. Their communications team relied on clear and compassionate posts to build trust and provide leadership. They utilized social media to provide updates and tell stories about the people behind the recovery efforts, with a focus on uniting the community in the aftermath. 

In honor of National Preparedness Month, we asked City of Issaquah’s Communications Manager Thomas Rush to share more about this experience and tips for socialgovs on how to prepare for an emergency. Connect with him on LinkedIn and read his responses to our seven questions to learn about his personal journey, his go bag, and the response effort that received the 2025 Golden Post Award for Best Use of Social Media in an Emergency. 

Describe yourself in 200 characters or less. 

An avid traveler and soccer fan who is fortunate to have a career in public service where I can help enhance communities. Known to annoy friends and family alike with anecdotes on why density, public transit, and walkability are important.

Tell us about your socialgov journey. 

I decided early in my career that I wanted to experience government at every level. Stops included the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, South Africa and shaping messaging as a public affairs specialist for the State of Oregon. Along the way, I discovered my passion was at the local government level, specifically here in Issaquah—where I can see firsthand how my work strengthens community connections and makes a tangible difference for residents.

If we were coming to visit you in your town/city/state, what is your favorite thing we should see or do?

Issaquah, WA is so fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty. I’d be sure to make a strong case for you to hit the trails to take in a scenic vista within the local Issaquah Alps. If you forgot your hiking boots, that’s okay. The Pacific Northwest has something for everyone. I like to send visitors to the Seattle waterfront to grab a bite to eat and then hop on a ferry to crisscross Puget Sound where the views are spectacular and you may even be fortunate enough to spot a sea lion, orca, or humpback whale. 

Where do you draw inspiration and creativity from?

I know it sounds cliché, but really from everywhere. That can be the randomness that finds me while scrolling online, conversations on what’s popped up in friend groups, or simply what my peers create that’s trending in the world. The work really starts when you take those jolts of inspiration and find ways to make it resonate within your community. That takes a creative team with a strong understanding of how to make it match your audience’s interests. Not everything will land as well as you hoped, but learn from each idea and stay open to being creative.

What is in your socialgov go bag/emergency kit? 

As the Communications Manager, my responsibilities shift during an emergency to being the City’s Public Information Officer and working with the Incident Commander to coordinate response. I get to practice putting my go bag together a few times a year. 

In it you’ll find common emergency supplies like boots, waterproof jacket, a med kit, etc. You’ll also find the digital tools—laptop, cell phone, camera, Go-Pro, and enough charging cables and batteries to create an impressive modern art display. If I think it could aid me in helping others during a disaster, I try and find a way to have it. 

What social/communication wins and areas of improvement came from the windstorm emergency?

As a team, we learned a lot during the bomb cyclone event in November 2024. Our community faced long term power outages, impacted travel corridors, and damages to homes and businesses. As forecasts began to worsen and we escalated from cautionary messaging to disaster response, we stayed in constant contact with first responders and city leadership to share information with impacted residents. 

Following the storm we saw an opportunity to branch out and experiment with communications mediums during the initial recovery phase. As a team, we captured drone footage of the damages, did stand up interviews with the Mayor and staff in the field, created on-demand resource sheets for common questions coming in on social channels, and captured images to tell an important story. 

Not everything we tried worked perfectly, but I was proud of the immense efforts the city staff put in and we did our best to let the community focus a little less on the state of the city and more on their families and neighbors.

What is your best piece of advice for fellow socialgovs facing an emergency?

Practice. Work to build understanding with your team and your peers. If you are ever in a position where emergency communications are required, you’ll be thankful for the drills, the scenarios, and the exercises you’ve done in the past to give yourself the chance to talk through what you’ll do and what you should say to your community during a disaster. You won’t be able to plan for every variable or situation. But if you practice, there will be more moments to build your confidence, which will come through in how you communicate with your audience.