Nestled within the upstate region of South Carolina, the City of Greenville rarely considers hurricanes a point of critical concern. That suddenly changed with the arrival of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, leaving Scott McIver, CPFP, CAFS, Greenville's Fleet Manager, with lessons that forever changed his understanding of emergency response.

He joins us to discuss those lessons in this week's episode of Public Works Radio, the official podcast of the American Public Works Association (APWA). With news coverage consistently flooding the airwaves about unpredictable weather patterns and the harsh realities coming in its aftermath, Scott's message is crystal clear: the critical value of FEMA training cannot be overstated.

This week we're talking about fleet preparedness, resilience, dealing with unpredictable weather patterns, and public works agencies as crucial pillars for building resilient communities. As our other guest this week, Vincent Olsen, CPFP, Director of Equipment and Fleet Management for the City of Dallas, Texas, describes it, our old friends, coordination and communication, play a major role in all of this.

This episode was inspired in-part by Scott’s APWA Reporter article from September 2025, entitled, “Lessons Learned as a Fleet Manager During a FEMA-Level Event (Hurricane Helene),” which you can check out here: https://apwa.partica.online/reporter/september-2025/features/lessons-learned-as-a-fleet-manager-during-a-fema-level-event-hurricane-helene

Public Works Radio is hosted by Bailey Dickman, Senior Digital Marketing Specialist with APWA. Each episode dives into a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire, making public works more visible to everyone—from the general public and elected officials to industry peers and the media. If you haven’t already, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, rate and review the show, forward it to a friend, and drop us a note at podcast@apwa.org so we can hear your feedback directly!

More Show Notes and Resources

APWA’s Emergency Management Committee:

https://www.apwa.org/group/emergency-management/

APWA’s Sustainability and Resiliency Committee:

https://www.apwa.org/group/sustainability-and-resiliency/

APWA’s Sustainability and Resiliency Online Learning Library:

https://www.apwa.org/connections-networking/groups-committees/sustainability-and-resiliency-online-learning-library/

Emergency Management Resources:

• Emergency Management Assistance Compact
• “National Geodetic Survey’s online viewer to explore aerial images following major natural disasters” – National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources – National Weather Service
• Hurricanes – Ready.gov
• Hurricane Hazard Info Sheet – Ready.gov
• APWA’s Natural Hazards Checklist: Hurricane
• Hurricane Preparedness and Evacuation Planning – FEMA

Taking place May 17–23, this year’s National Public Works Week theme is “Rooted in Service, Powered by Community,” and that special time of year will be here before you know it. To get the ball rolling, we’ve invited some of the most inspiring public workers in the country to join our show and share their ideas on how they make this week so special.

From ideas for celebrating with food, trivia, local small businesses, touch-a-truck events, food drives, barbecue competitions, social media campaigns, awards, giveaways, and much more, we hope this episode inspires you. We also hope you find something in the show to bring back to your team and community to make your National Public Works Week truly special.

Join us as we go coast to coast to find some of the most unique ways teams around the country are celebrating.

In this episode we hear from the following guests:

• Petra Beglarian, MPA, Public Works Manager, City of Glendale, California Public Works Department.
• Ryon Bell, CPWP-M, CAPM, Streets and Drainage Manager, City of Sugar Land, Texas.
• Ani Oganesyan, MPA, Community Outreach Associate, City of Glendale, California Public Works Department.
• Thomas Roy, PE, Director of Public Works and Town Engineer, Town of Simsbury, Connecticut.

Public Works Radio is hosted by Bailey Dickman, Senior Digital Marketing Specialist with APWA. Each episode dives into a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire, making public works more visible to everyone—from the general public and elected officials to industry peers and the media. If you haven’t already, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, rate and review the show, forward it to a friend, and drop us a note at podcast@apwa.org so we can hear your feedback directly!

More Show Notes and Links

Your Complete Guide to NPWW 2026: https://www.apwa.org/events/national-public-works-week-npww/

About Petra Beglarian, MPA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-beglarian-mpa-362217171/

About Ryon Bell, CPWP-M, CAPM: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryon-bell-cpwp-m-capm-399aa4223/

About Ani Oganesyan, MPA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ani-oganesyan-mpa-616218171

About Thomas Roy, PE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-roy-63a853208

Glendale Public Works on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyGlendale

Glendale Public Works on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myglendale

Glendale Public Works on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myglendale

Simsbury, Connecticut Public Works: https://www.simsbury-ct.gov/public-works

Sugar Land, Texas Public Works: https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/98/Public-Works

While police, fire, and EMS are commonly recognized as first responders, public works professionals are often on the scene as well, quietly doing essential work to restore normalcy in communities without the praise or recognition.

In this week’s edition of Public Works Radio, the official podcast of the American Public Works Association (APWA), we’re exploring the stories of why public workers are first responders and addressing the efforts it will require to ensure more formal recognition of public works professionals designated as first responders.

The movement requires many public workers to step out of their comfort zones, help get the word out about the fundamental role public works plays in partnership with their fellow first responders, and ensure more people in their communities understand the incredible work they do.

In this episode we hear from the following guests:

• Philip Mann. He serves as Special Project Administrator in the City of Gainesville, Florida, and previously served as Public Works Director.
• Leon Berrett. He is retired from Salt Lake County Public Works in Utah, where he previously served as Associate Director of Public Works Operations.
• Kürt Blomquist. He retired in 2023 from the City of Keene, New Hampshire, where he served as Public Works Director, Assistant City Manager, and Emergency Management Director.

Public Works Radio is hosted by Bailey Dickman, Senior Digital Marketing Specialist with APWA. Each episode dives into a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire, making public works more visible to everyone—from the general public and elected officials to industry peers and the media. If you haven’t already, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, rate and review the show, forward it to a friend, and drop us a note at podcast@apwa.org so we can hear your feedback directly!

More Show Notes and Links

Public Works as First Responders resources from APWA: https://www.apwa.org/resources/public-works-first-responders/

Lessons as First Responders: Responding to the 2024 Hurricanes (webinar): https://www.apwa.org/resource/lessons-as-first-responders-responding-to-the-2024-hurricanes/

From FEMA’s YouTube Channel, "Public Works & Emergency Management": https://youtu.be/Y5i-oguCJ7Q?si=5lwJvjcHKO6Dzl3F

Learn more about Kürt Blomquist’s impact on Keene, NH: https://www.keenesentinel.com/news/local/city/after-3-decades-keenes-public-works-director-to-retire/article_fa286221-6b52-509c-9bac-74544a4c69d7.html

Phillip Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipmann/