Life can throw some wrenches into a career. Hugh Plappert sits down with William Whitson to unfold an interesting career path from Washington DC and the U S E P A to city manager and long-term recovery. The conversation moves through hurricanes back to back, an intergovernmental response to Katrina, Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas, COVID, and flash flooding after the 4th of July. Listeners hear how to make an impact with grants and contracts, how local governments pair up the damage with the available funding, and why a comprehensive plan lands north of $150 million in state and federal aid. The mindset is a marathon and not a sprint, with training, ISO certificates, FEMA courses, EOCs, mutual aid, and sister city exchanges. Technology changes expectations for service delivery, from letters to faxes to email and texting, with AI and drone technology, GIS, and cameras in water and sewer lines.

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👤 Guest Bio

William Whitson worked at headquarters in Washington with the U S E P A, learning contracts, grants, intergovernmental relations, and communication strategies. He moved into local government as a manager with hurricanes back to back, an intergovernmental response to Katrina, and long-term recovery for Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas. He helped write a comprehensive long-term recovery plan and landed north of $150 million in state and federal aid. He is active with ICMA fellows and coaching and serves communities as a consultant and interim city manager.

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📌 What We Cover

• From federal to local: getting told the resource level versus building a budget with consensus on the tax rate
• Hurricanes back to back, Katrina, Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas, COVID, and flash flooding after the 4th of July
• Pairing up the damage with the available funding and recording it in a comprehensive plan
• “Your best work in an emergency happens before the emergency” with training, ISO 100 through 800, and incident commander roles
• Marathon mindset, advanced planning, and being a team player with elected officials and staff
• Mutual aid and sister city exchanges, 5 0 1 C 3 roles, enterprise funds, and the parts you do not see underground
• Technology in service delivery: AI note taking, drone technology, GIS, cameras in water lines and sewer lines
• Getting started: education, internships, writing studies, volunteering, and working with a manager

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• FEMA courses and ISO 100 through 800
• EOC and NIMS
• ICMA, ICMA Young Professional fellows, and ICMA coaching
• Rockport, Texas long-term recovery for Hurricane Harvey
• Enterprise funds, lift stations, generators, and traffic lights
• Drone technology, GIS technology, cameras in water lines and sewer lines