In the time I have been interning at the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES), I have developed more skills than I could have imagined. At first, I was nervous to walk into an office full of people I did not know. However, immediately upon joining OES, I felt comfortable.
Eventually, the office became somewhere I looked forward to going each week. Whether I was out in the community taking pictures and videos, creating outreach materials, writing articles, or working behind the scenes on different projects, each week gave me an opportunity to learn something new. Although some weeks were slower than others and consisted mostly of designing, editing reels, and organizing materials, I still enjoyed coming to the office because I knew the work we were doing mattered.
Over the eight months of my internship, I discovered strengths that I already had and others that I had not fully used before. My confidence grew significantly, especially when using my communication skills. My writing and photography also improved, and I gained valuable knowledge about how to manage multiple projects. Additionally, I gained a greater appreciation for the amount of work that is required by offices such as OES to keep a community informed and prepared before, during, and after emergencies.
Preparedness has come to mean a great deal to me because of its direct connection to my everyday life. Having animals of my own, I understand that staying informed about emergencies can save lives when needing to evacuate or stock up to stay in place. Whether the emergency is caused by fire, heavy rain and flooding, or being snowed in, knowing what is happening and when an evacuation order has been issued helps tremendously. When you are responsible for caring for animals, emergency situations require extra planning and preparation. Through working with OES, I now have a better understanding of the importance of the information they provide and the hard work that goes into protecting our community. I also have a better understanding of how to make sure that my family, our livestock, and I are ready in case of a natural disaster.
A major lesson I learned is that emergency preparedness is not limited to adults. Young people have an important role to play as well, as we are the future of the world. In today’s world, many students use social media regularly, participate in clubs and organizations, and are actively involved in their communities. This gives youth opportunities to share important information with others. Taking small steps toward preparedness can lead to significant positive effects when an emergency arises.
At the conclusion of my internship, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone with the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services for making me feel welcome, providing me with training, and trusting me with meaningful tasks and projects. The support and guidance that I received from staff helped me grow both personally and professionally, and these lessons will continue to help me after this experience is over. Reflecting on the last eight months since beginning my internship, I can confidently state that saying yes to this internship has been an amazing decision.
Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as part of the California Climate Investments Program, through the California Fire Safe Council. The 2025 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Grant, a program of the Community Wildfire Preparedness Project, is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and- Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investment website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov