A Unique Deployment Experience in Kern County

Recently, I had the unique opportunity to be deployed to Kern County to assist with communication efforts and translations in Spanish during the Borel Fire. It’s not every day that you hear about Public Information Officers (PIOs) being deployed to assist with such emergencies—usually, it’s the firefighters who are called upon. However, this time, Imperial County was chosen from a pool of five neighboring counties, and I was selected for the task.

This experience was different from anything I’ve encountered before, though not entirely unfamiliar. Having worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve seen firsthand how federal, state, and local agencies come together to support each other during a crisis. However, while we often highlight the positive outcomes of such collaborations, the not-so-positive aspects are rarely discussed. Today, I want to share a bit of my experience in Kern County because I believe my initial approach may have been too assertive, though my intentions were always to assist, not to overstep.

The onboarding process in Kern County wasn’t ideal, and I quickly realized that a clearer understanding of expectations from day one could have prevented some uncomfortable conversations. When I first arrived, my primary role was to translate materials—flyers, announcements, and official county documents that needed to be released to the public. Additionally, there was a strong focus on promoting the Local Assistance Center (LAC), which is a critical hub where residents can access services and support after a disaster.

Eager to contribute more, I immediately offered my multimedia skills and suggested creating promotional videos in both English and Spanish to inform the community about the LAC. In less than two days, I produced a 45-second video in both languages, covering the essential who, what, when, and where.

Everything seemed to be going well until a local TV station requested an interview in Spanish. I was thrilled to oblige and received approval from one of the Kern County officials. However, it quickly became apparent that not everyone was on the same page. Some representatives were not pleased with the idea of a "random guy" (as I was referred to) conducting interviews in Spanish. This led to a confusing situation where one of the Kern County officials pulled me aside and gave me a verbal directive to "stick to Spanish" and leave all other communications to Kern County.

I assured the official that my intention was never to step on anyone’s toes or undermine their efforts; I simply wanted to ensure that the Spanish-speaking community in Kern County was well-informed about the services and assistance available at the LAC.

When I returned to the room, my colleagues were curious about whether I had gotten into trouble. I explained that the officials had asked me to "stick to Spanish" and leave broader communication efforts to Kern County. After that, my role was significantly scaled back, and I was primarily on standby for translations.

I’m not sharing this story to criticize any county, but rather to highlight the importance of clear communication, especially in emergency situations. Kern County had a total of seven PIOs, and miscommunication seemed to be a recurring issue. In contrast, we may be a smaller county with fewer PIOs, but that often means we have to wear multiple hats. Even while stationed in Kern County, I continued to manage my responsibilities for Imperial County—pushing out social media announcements, responding to media inquiries, and crafting press releases.

When I first got hired, my bossman told me, "All I ask from you is to deliver." And that’s exactly what I did. I delivered because I care deeply about my community and those in our neighboring counties affected by emergencies. I also want to thank my boss for giving me a shoutout during today’s Board of Supervisors meeting. That’s a true example of great leadership and someone who genuinely cares about his employees.

This experience taught me valuable lessons about adaptability, communication, and the importance of understanding my role in any situation. While it wasn’t always smooth sailing, I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow from this unique deployment.