Internships

Internship Opportunities

Lexington Emergency Management invites undergraduate and graduate students with interests in emergency management, crisis communication, disaster preparedness, or community resilience to apply for internships. The internship experience will be a learning opportunity for students and provide hands-on experiences with public affairs, media professionals, and emergency managers in a government environment. These unpaid internships will involve projects and assignments up to an average of 20 hours per week and can be used for course credit through the student’s institution. Internships are available for the spring, summer, and fall semesters.

Questions: Email Emily Fay (efay@lexingtonky.gov) with questions about internship opportunities.

General Internship Duties & Requirements

Description: Lexington Emergency Management is pleased to offer position-specific internships, depending on the student’s area of study and interest. All internships will participate in the following duties and requirements.

• Provide assistance during emergency declarations and emergency operations center activations.
• Create content for the emergency management AM radio station, emergency notification systems, website, social media channels, and other publications.
• Assist in the research and creation of materials used for development and funding projects.
• Provide administrative support for the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) outreach, emergency exercise programs, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
• Participate in local exercises and training opportunities.

Requirements: Students should have working knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or desktop publishing applications. All interns will be required to complete basic Incident Command System (ICS) and emergency management training, which will enhance their learning experience and understanding of daily operations.

Position-Specific Internships

Public Information / Crisis Communication Intern

Description: This position will work under the supervision of public information officers and emergency management personnel. The duties will include the following:

• Writing, shooting, editing, and producing content for social media channels and the Lexington Emergency Management website, BeReadyLexington.com.
• Design and publish media products for instructional/persuasive/informational materials.
• Assist with media relations and publicity tasks, including interacting with local media outlets.

Requirements: Students should be familiar with basic public relations and media concepts and processes. Experience with design programs such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, etc., will be beneficial to tasks.

Emergency Management Intern

Description: This position will work under the supervision of public information officers and emergency management personnel. The duties will include the following:

• Assist in developing and reviewing emergency operations plans and continuity of operations plans for Lexington Emergency Management and community stakeholders.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of local and multi-jurisdictional exercises to test emergency plans.
• Research and provide recommendations on topics in emergency planning and recovery.

Requirements: Students should have some knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) and emergency management plans and operations.

Application Process

Letter of Application: Students interested in an internship should write a letter of application that outlines their expectations for the internship and what skills they expect to develop and/or improve. The letter and a current resume should be sent – via email – to:

Emily Fay, Public Information Officer

Lexington Emergency Management

Email: efay@lexingtonky.gov

Internship Availability: Lexington Emergency Management is now accepting applications for internships during the Fall 2026 semester.

• Fall 2026 Semester: OPEN
• Spring 2027 Semester: OPEN

Download: DEM Internship Opportunities