Wildfires & Pandemics

One month ago, “human error” sparked a small brush fire in the median of I-70 along Colorado’s prestigious Glenwood Canyon. Dry conditions and Red Flag* winds spurred the fire’s growth and intensity. Within days, the blaze jumped the Colorado River and spread throughout 10,000 acres of forest and communities. To date, the Grizzly Creek Wildfire has consumed over 32,000 acres of the White River National Forest and is 92% contained thanks to the tireless efforts of first responders from Colorado and across the country. 

Disruption from this single wildfire has been rampant. Here is a snapshot of just a few of the many impacts that occurred from a single careless incident:

Disruption to people:

• Travel: Twenty-four miles of Interstate 70 was closed in both direction for a record 14 days. Navigation apps routed unfamiliar travelers, including commercial trailers, over mountain passes that are ill-equipped to handle the number and size of vehicles attempting to traverse the roads. Independence Pass, which is considered one of the most harrowing mountain passes in the country, was forced to close after multiple tracker trailers jack-knifed on its hairpin turns.
• Populations: Three residential communities were evacuated and air quality throughout the region has been severely compromised
• Supporting services: The Shoshone hydroelectric power plant lost transmission lines which caused service interruptions throughout the region. In addition, the water quality is dangerously low throughout the impacted area.

Disruption to nature: 

• The ecological impacts to the Colorado River which cuts through this glorious canyon and further south through its more famous attraction (the Grand Canyon) are likely to be felt for several years if not decades.
• Fish populations are expected to be immediately impacted due to fire sedimentation polluting rivers, creeks and streams.
• The forest service has already identified an increased risk of landslides which will further challenge ecosystems within the valley.
• Click here for an article from the National Parks Service regarding the impact of fire within natural habitats.

Signs of life amid the ashes

And yet, not even month after the initial spark lit the wildfire, signs of renewal peaked through the charred earth as Mother Nature began to reclaim her ground. These images of budding green sprouts were taken exactly one month after the fire started. 

The Grizzly Creek Fire is just one of the hundreds of fires raging through our country’s wilderness but nature isn’t questioning "why me, why now?" Nature isn't picketing and campaigning for the return of green grass ahead of healthy soil. But, neither is she giving up. In fact, Mother Nature is renewing, adapting and strengthening her environment and species. Why? Because that’s what nature knows to do. Live. Disrupt or be disrupted. And then, renew and adapt.**

What we can learn from wildfires during COVID.

It is interesting to observe that unlike her human counterparts, Mother Nature has little choice but to look forward and adapt. There is no such thing as a “return to normal” for her. Every time nature endures a disruption whether of its own doing or ours, nature is forced to renew, adapt or allow parts of it to give up and die. And, in fact, controlled purge and burns are considered an important tool in maintaining the health and safety of a forest. In other words, nature relies on disruption for its survival and growth. Humans, on the other hand, resist disruption unless we control it.

Before COVID, industry “disruption” was something we celebrated and rewarded for its creativity and innovation. Uber disrupted cab companies as quickly as VRBO and AirBNB disrupted hotel chains. We embraced this form of disruption because people created it and, at some level, we recognized its benefits.

Then, along came a pandemic caused by a virus over which we had no control. Our responses to it have been as varied as the number of people living on the planet. It has been fascinating to observe the differences between those who, like Mother Nature, renewed, adapted and began to re-emerge with strength and resilience and those who are still clamoring for a “return to the old normal.” The latter, in my opinion, are missing a tremendous opportunity to renew and adapt while the survivors, I predict, will emerge stronger, healthier and prepared to surpass their own expectations.

My advice, regardless of which category your organization falls into, is to take this opportunity to intentionally examine the changes made to your organization to respond to the pandemic. Survey employees, customers and suppliers regarding how they experienced the adjustments. What about them was easier if not welcome, and what was more challenging than they expected? How can you turn those benefits and blessings into revised ways of doing business as your organization emerges or prepares to emerge? Then, sit back and watch what happens to your organization's culture, employee satisfaction and retention, cost savings and revenue increases. It's not magic. It's real and the upside will be both real and measurable.

Just the other day, I spoke with a business leader whose organization's annual spend on commercial real estate exceeds $70 million dollar world-wide. He expects to cut that expense alone by at least a third thanks to COVID. That may not be great news for the traditional way in which commercial real estate operates, but it creates another opportunity for renewal and adaptation in that industry.

I will highlight several examples of organizations that embraced or eschewed the opportunity for renewal and adaptation as our company launches its new website. I would love to know your thoughts and observations as I gather my own.

Yes, “What’s Next Biz” has experienced its own renewal and adaptation. Where we were once primarily focused on authentic alignment as the strongest measure of organizational health, we have expanded to include 

• Return to work assessments and plans that identify the beneficial adaptations that organizations made during the pandemic which can be carried forward and need to be captured in policy revisions. operational protocols, marketing and advertising collateral and leadership acumen;
• Placement services that capture simple and straight-forward metrics to enhance the value of your investment in employment searches for both employees and employers.
• One-on-one coaching for those who are seizing the opportunity make a change in their career or current work environment.

Our goal remains the same: to see that all organizations live and operate from a position of authentic alignment. While we continue to facilitate alignment between core values, culture, messaging, operations, policies, people, and relationships, we also recognize that there are areas within the alignment exercise in which specific focus will benefit the overall trajectory at both the organizational and personal level. So, we are adapting to meet those needs.

Please contact me if you would like to preview our new website in pre-production (feedback is requested in exchange for the link) or request a link to one of our modified surveys that includes a free 30 minute consultation and post-consultation report. 

In the meantime, please create the opportunity to get outside and enjoy these beautiful September days. Have a great week! 

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End Notes:

* Red Flag Warning: A term used by fire-weather forecasters to call attention to limited weather conditions of particular importance that may result in extreme burning conditions. It is issued when it is an on-going event or the fire weather forecaster has a high degree of confidence that Red Flag criteria will occur within 24 hours of issuance. Red Flag criteria occurs whenever a geographical area has been in a dry spell for a week or two, or for a shorter period , if before spring green-up or after fall color, and the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is high to extreme and the following forecast weather parameters are forecasted to be met:

1. a sustained wind average 15 mph or greater
2. relative humidity less than or equal to 25 percent and
3. a temperature of greater than 75 degrees F.

In some states, dry lightning and unstable air are criteria. A Fire Weather Watch may be issued prior to the Red Flag Warning. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/nws_forecastinfo.html 

** Please know that while I understand and accept the ecological challenges that human behavior has created, specific data and commentary regarding those challenges is beyond the scope of this article. If that issue resonates with you, I get it. Please understand the context of this note and message me separately with your comments/concerns. I value your opinion.