First responders deserve praise for their efforts, but what about others who have made it possible to recover?
By Dalton George
In the weeks and months after Hurricane Helene, I’ve seen many good stories about the police and fire departments that sent employees to the impacted parts of Western North Carolina. I’ve always respected those in public safety, and their response to this disaster showed a commitment to public service that has inspired me.
But still, after all this time, I’ve seen little mention of the public works departments who traveled just as far, bore much of the burden, and have gotten little of the glory. They weren’t the only ones in government who have stepped up, of course. But it was these civil servants who helped stabilize landslides, created ways out for trapped citizens, and so much more.
They weren’t the only local government employees who did amazing things. But why were these blue-collar heroes largely left out of the celebration? It may have something to do with our country’s historical neglect – even disrespect – for bare-knuckled, hard work and for the laboring men and women who keep things going. A uniform always impresses more than a tee shirt and shovel.
Their impact in the face of such a challenge should be documented and re-told.
Even in a small Western North Carolina town, the local public works office is often the biggest department by number of employees. Public works employees are the ones who make sure water comes out of your faucet when you turn it on, that your toilet flushes, and that waste is handled safely. They are the ones who clear roads and repair them, fight ice storms, maintain the vehicles that take other first responders to the scene, and so much more. They are a dedicated and mostly unseen workforce making our towns run, year-round.
During the immediate aftermath of Helene, as soon as I got a moment, I went to our public works facility, looking to thank and check on the many public servants personally. In that visit I asked several folks how they all personally fared throughout the storm. Different stories of resilience came about; one shared how he slept in his van so he could get to work easier, another talked about how he worried for his family’s safety while working long nights, but they all made it thorough.
These folks had just worked around the clock to get our town back to working order. I met many who expressed uncertainty when asked about their own homes. Said one, “I’ve got a tree on my place, but it could be worse. I’ll take care of it sometime, but for now, I’m just happy to be here and able to help.” That “could have been worse for me” sentiment was shared by many others whose hard work is so often out of the public eye.
Their work began well before Helene ever arrived. They worked long hours a week out and in preparation for the worst, hopping into streams and rivers, clearing culverts, and preparing our infrastructure for what we all feared was coming.
Another key piece of infrastructure that public works employees worked to protect was our water treatment plant. A small team of professionals worked 24/7 to get clean water back to every resident of Boone. This feat wasn’t easy.
These town and county employees work like this year round. But the truth is, the work of these men and women is only noticed when it’s desperately needed. A long-time public works director once told me that he knew his job was being done well when no one talked about his department.
Now, months after the hurricane, many public works’ employees remain focused on recovery efforts.
And while our Town has officially recognized all of the employees who gave so much, the story of departments like these still goes unheard across North Carolina.
I urge you to thank a public works employee. If you own a business, give them a free meal, or drop by their facility with a treat. Not all heroes wear capes (or uniforms). Some wield a shovel or hold clipboards, and many have some scruff on their faces and mud on their shoes.