When Every Update Counts: Inside Boerne’s Flood Response
11:00 a.m. – Noon, Sept 30
September’s National Preparedness Month may be coming to a close, but the work of preparing for an emergency never does!
When historic flooding hit Boerne in July 2026, its communications team faced an urgent challenge: keep a community of roughly 24,000 informed as conditions changed rapidly. That work continued through the recovery, as residents needed updates on road closures, cleanup and where to turn for help.
Go behind the scenes with Boerne’s Communications Director to explore how they divided responsibilities between the Emergency Operations Center and City Hall, issued emergency alerts and kept digital channels updated. This webinar will also cover the sustained communications work of recovery, from long-term road closures to debris disposal, and how the experience is shaping Boerne’s communication plans heading into the future.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for organizing a small team, making fuller use of existing communication tools and maintaining clear, useful information through both response and recovery.
Hosted by: Sara Bustilloz, CPC, TAMIO VP of Development and Education & Director of Communications and Marketing
City of Round Rock
SPEAKER: Chris Shadrock, CPC
Communications & Civic Engagement Director, City of Boerne
Chris was born in San Antonio, raised in the Texas Hill Country, and is a proud graduate of Boerne High School. His curiosity about different places took him to Vermont for his undergraduate studies, but his passion for storytelling led him back to Texas, where he spent nearly a decade in local broadcast news. Chris earned prestigious accolades, including a National Edward R. Murrow Award, recognition from the Texas Associated Press, and a Lone Star EMMY nomination.
In 2019, he returned home to serve as the City of Boerne’s Communications Manager and was promoted to director in 2020. He has played a pivotal role in reimagining and shaping the city’s messaging and community engagement. His leadership has been instrumental in projects like the city’s rebranding and the successful passage of a $36 million bond election. His work has been recognized by the TML, TAMIO and the National Association of Government Communicators.
Whether managing crisis communication, crafting speeches, or highlighting civic achievements, Chris remains dedicated to keeping Boerne informed and connected.
MODERATOR: Jarrod Wise, APIO, CPC, CPM
Communications Director, City of Lakeway
Jarrod Wise is the Communications Director for the City of Lakeway and PIO for the Lakeway Police Department. Jarrod began his career in television news in Oklahoma City, where he was part of the storm chasing team for the NBC station – yes, ‘naders! After working for a few television stations in Austin and for the private sector, Jarrod shifted to the public sector life in 2019. Jarrod served as part of the TAMIO strike team for recovery efforts following the Kerr County floods last year, shortly after receiving his Advanced PIO certification through FEMA. Jarrod’s team received the “Award of Excellence” this year for Crisis Communications Plans from 3CMA and the “Award of Honor” for Crisis Communications from TAMIO, both related to the emergency communications response to Winter Storm Fern earlier this year.