As we recover from the recent severe winter storm system that swept across the United States, we’ve witnessed stories that again underscore the essential role public works professionals play in safeguarding communities. As leaders within APWA and public works, we are aware that those who serve in public works often perform their duties under dangerous and exhausting conditions without a lot of fanfare.
That’s why we want to take this opportunity to highlight recent media coverage that celebrates public works first responders and the critical work they’ve been doing during this recent extreme weather. Here are just a few of the stories we’ve seen over the past week:
- In Cincinnati, Ohio, an Ohio Department of Transportation snowplow driver, Joe Estes, cleared miles of snow‑covered roads during a severe winter storm so an ambulance carrying a critically ill infant, Bryson, could safely reach Cincinnati Children’s Hospital—an effort he called “the most important trek” of his career.
- In Massachusetts, snowplow driver Matte McGarry spotted a pair of legs flailing from a deep snowbank while plowing during a winter storm and immediately stopped to pull an older man to safety. The man had fallen headfirst into the powdery snow and was unable to free himself, Thanks to his quick actions, the man’s life was saved.
- On Thursday last week, a Vernon, Connecticut garbage truck driver, Doug Haiko, noticed a distressed mother with her choking 18-month-old son and immediately intervened, using his medical response training to perform back blows that cleared the child’s airway. He kept the boy warm until emergency crews arrived and was later recognized by town officials for his lifesaving actions.
- A quick-thinking Ohio DOT snowplow driver, Yvonne Caudill, spotted a 7-month old kitten trapped in a snowdrift, stopped her plow, pulled the kitten to safety, and warmed him up before contacting authorities. The kitten—now named Drift—was treated for injuries and is recovering well at the Fayette Regional Humane Society.
- The future of public works is in good hands in Washington, DC. The city’s “Snow Team Heroes” program matches youth around the area with residents who are unable to clear snow from their sidewalks so that neighborhoods can be cleared and functional in a timely manner. The young snowfighters receive training and supplies from the city and even complete reports for their assigned sections. Their assistance was requested for 1,500 homes in the recent snowstorm, an impressive amount of work for a group of teens to tackle.
These stories, and dozens of others we’ve seen in communities across the nation, remind us how essential the work being done by public works is. They ensure that emergency responders can operate, critical infrastructure remains functional, and residents have access to the services they rely upon during extreme weather.
We thank each and every one of you who has answered the call over the past few weeks. We know the hours are long and the conditions are difficult, but we applaud how deeply the roots of your service run.
