When natural or manmade disasters hit a community, public works is uniquely positioned to fast-track its return to normalcy. Public works professionals know which roads flood first, the domino effects of debris that clogs ditches, and how infrastructure failures will ultimately impact safety. Through careful documentation, they thread the needle in telling the story of what the community has been through, which can usher in state and federal assistance and facilitate faster overall relief.

Tyler Hill serves as infrastructure projects manager for Boone County Public Works in Kentucky, and he's logistics section chief for the Kentucky Incident Management team. He's also vice chair of APWA's Emergency Management Committee. As he outlined in his June 2026 APWA Reporter article (linked below), and discusses during this week's edition of Public Works Radio, effective disaster recovery and debris cleanup hinge on key factors, such as creating relationships that must be in place well in advance of the days they are needed most.

Another critical theme coming out of this conversation with Tyler is just how vital public workers are as first responders when it comes to disaster relief, strategic cleanup, and bringing back some calm to a community during and after the chaos of a life-altering event.

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

Public Works Radio Episode No. 4 “The Movement to Recognize Public Works Professionals as First Responders”: https://www.apwa.org/resource/the-movement-to-recognize-public-works-professionals-as-first-responders/

APWA Reporter Article, “Damage Assessments in Public Works: Where Recovery Begins”: https://apwa.partica.online/reporter/june-2026/features/damage-assessments-in-public-works-where-recovery-begins

APWA Emergency Management Committee: https://www.apwa.org/group/emergency-management/

APWA’s Focus on Emergency Management resources: https://www.apwa.org/education-careers/focus-on-public-works/focus-on-emergency-management/

APWA Natural Hazard Checklists covering response to tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, ice storms, and civil unrest: https://www.apwa.org/resources/resource-center/?_search=checklist

Tyler may be reached via email at: Thill@boonecountyky.org.

Boone County (KY) Public Works: https://www.boonecountyky.org/services/public_works/index.php