The Phoenix, a mythological bird that rises from its own ashes, symbolizes renewal after fire. At a recent wildfire preparedness event, the "Phoenix Rising" artwork reflected how communities can recover and grow stronger after disaster.

San Mateo – When San Mateo County’s Emergency Management team invited students from Mercy High School to participate in a recent wildfire preparedness event, they discovered a powerful yet underused tool hiding in plain sight: teen voices.

The high school students did far more than observe — they jumped into supporting every aspect of the event, brought creative solutions and fresh energy that's reshaping how the County approaches emergency preparedness for its youngest residents.

With nearly 18 percent of county's population under age of 18, engaging young people is essential to our collective preparedness and resiliency. The pilot collaboration with Mercy High School was so successful that it's becoming a model for a broader youth engagement strategy.

"The students were well prepared to have the conversation, spoke thoughtfully and confidently and provided unique insights and suggestions for future programming that otherwise would never have been unearthed," said Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, Director of San Mateo County's Department of Emergency Management.

What the Students Unearthed

The collaboration at the recent Wildfire Ready event revealed four key insights now shaping San Mateo County’s s preparedness strategy:

Preparation isn't just for homeowners. Students challenged the assumption that emergency readiness primarily targets property owners, noting that renters and young people also "want to be prepared and gain knowledge."

Location creates false security. Students observed that "even though you may live in the city, your house may still catch on fire" and "even if you think fires can't happen, they could possibly happen." Their perspective is guiding new messaging for residents in seemingly low-risk areas.

Preparedness reduces stress, not increases it. Rather than fear-based messaging, students framed readiness as empowering: "When you're prepared, every situation is a lot more stress-free." These insights help to reframe emergency communications toward confidence-building rather than anxiety.

Community connection drives engagement. Students viewed preparedness as "bringing unity" and creating opportunities to "work with each other," suggesting that social connection, rather than individual responsibility, motivates action.

Creative Approaches Build Lasting Connections

Mercy High School’s Visual Arts Program also contributed to the event with "Phoenix Rising," an 8-foot canvas where community members wrote what resilience means to them. This collaborative work created an emotional connection, not just the transfer of information.

The canvas will travel across the county, continuing to engage residents in conversations about resilience.

"These creative approaches aren't optional extras in emergency management; they're essential bridges for building trust and connectedness across the whole community," explained Nadine Baroudi, Director of VPA at Mercy High School.

Building Toward Long-Term Youth Engagement

The success of this initial collaboration has prompted San Mateo County Emergency Management to explore formalizing youth engagement as part of a long-term strategy.  Mercy students have advocated for bringing emergency training and preparedness programs directly to students. This would involve providing CERT, CPR and "Stop the Bleed" training at schools across the county. Students said many high schoolers would appreciate having these skillsets to take into their first jobs as well as to support their communities in an emergency.

"This pilot program with Mercy High School represents an important first step in how we plan for continued youth engagement in emergency management," Dhapodkar said. "We're learning that when young people have a voice in preparedness, it strengthens our entire community's resilience."

Students from the pilot program have committed to continuing their involvement, with several planning to establish preparedness programs at their future colleges and maintain community leadership roles beyond graduation.

About San Mateo County Emergency Management
San Mateo County's Department of Emergency Management protects the whole community during disasters through comprehensive preparedness, response, and recovery operations.

About Mercy High School Burlingame
Mercy High School's Visual Arts Program combines creativity with community service, preparing students to be leaders and change-makers in their communities.

San Mateo County Emergency Management Email: DEM_Info@smcgov.org

Mercy High School Nadine Baroudi, Director of Visual Arts Programs Email: nbaroudi@mercyhsb.com