The devastating wildfires currently ravaging Southern California highlight the critical importance of clear and inclusive communication during emergencies. As flames consume neighborhoods and force mass evacuations, it is paramount to ensure that vital safety information reaches every individual—regardless of their language proficiency or ability to hear.
One in nine U.S. residents is limited English proficient (LEP), meaning they speak English “less than very well.” One in ten are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. In emergencies, these individuals are often the most vulnerable, and their needs are not always given the priority they deserve.
This blog explains the benefits of emergency translation and interpretation, outlines best practices for notifications and warnings, and lists the services LanguageLine provides to support inclusive communication during crises.
The Benefits of Emergency Translation and Interpretation
Breaking Language Barriers to Ensure Safety: Severe weather events and other emergencies often require preemptive warnings, safety reminders, evacuation notices, or immediate action instructions. Providing interpretation and translation services allows emergency management agencies to reach a wider audience and ensure essential information is conveyed accurately.
Promoting Inclusivity and Reducing Vulnerability: Language barriers disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including non-English speakers, immigrants, and refugees. Offering interpretation and translation services empowers these communities by granting them equal access to life-saving information.
Enhancing Community Engagement and Trust: Clear and accessible communication builds trust between authorities, service providers, and the public. By providing quality language assistance, emergency management agencies demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity and foster positive relationships within diverse communities.
Mitigating Misinformation and Rumors: In the absence of accurate information in their native language, non-English speakers may turn to unreliable sources, leading to misinformation and rumors. Language access ensures everyone receives consistent updates, reducing misinformation and promoting a unified response to the crisis.
Strengthening Emergency Response and Preparedness: Interpretation and translation services are indispensable for keeping the public informed during evolving situations, coordinating evacuations, disseminating safety protocols, and conveying information about shelters, medical services, and relief efforts.
10 Best Practices for Notifications and Warnings
In any emergency, effective communication before and during the incident is vital. The following tips ensure meaningful communication with LEP populations when an emergency is imminent:
- Use simple, clear language to avoid confusion or misunderstanding. Present critical information first, breaking it into short, digestible sentences.
- Use pictograms, symbols, and gestures to support verbal communication and bridge language barriers. Ensure emergency signs are multilingual and prominently displayed in accessible locations.
- Provide qualified interpreters and real-time captioning during broadcasts to ensure everyone can access critical information.
- Translate written materials into multiple languages, provide sign language videos, and offer Braille or large print versions. These accessible formats ensure everyone can understand and act on emergency information.
- Use multilingual emergency alerts via phones, apps, and other systems to quickly disseminate critical messages. Install visual alarms, such as flashing lights, and provide assistive devices to support individuals with hearing impairments.
- Deliver clear messages in all needed languages, including details about evacuation pickup points and traffic routes in affected areas.
- Partner with nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations that serve LEP populations to assist in disseminating information.
- Ensure all 911 and 211 call center staff are trained to access and partner with remote interpretation services such as LanguageLine.
- When conducting door-to-door warnings, use bilingual employees or volunteers, or provide personnel with instructions written in prevalent local languages. Remote interpreting services via smartphone or toll-free numbers can also support canvassing efforts.
- Coordinate with local, non-English media—including radio, television, print, online, and social media—to share emergency information widely.
Some regions may not be aware of their specific language needs. Fortunately, the necessary data for making this determination is often readily available:
- Municipalities can use demographic data from the census, school districts, and local human services agencies to assess language needs.
- The Federal Coordination and Compliance Section of the Department of Justice (FCS) has created maps using American Community Survey data to indicate concentrations of LEP individuals by state, county, and judicial district.
A Note About Children
Children are often the only fluent English speakers in many immigrant families. However, the Department of Justice LEP Guidance emphasizes that children should not be relied upon as interpreters except as a last resort while awaiting professional interpretation services.
To avoid this situation, it is crucial to identify qualified bilingual employees and volunteers and to establish relationships with professional language access providers.
LanguageLine Can Help
LanguageLine offers a comprehensive suite of services to enable effective communication to ensure the safety of diverse communities:
- Interpretation in Multiple Formats: We provide interpretation services in over 240 languages via phone, video, and in-person formats. Video interpretation is particularly valuable for instant access to American Sign Language.
- On-Demand Interpretation: Our professional interpreters are available 24/7, enabling real-time communication during emergencies. Whether for hotline calls, public announcements, or complex interactions, we facilitate clear and accurate communication.
- Mobile Interpretation: The LanguageLine app provides immediate access to interpreters via smartphone or tablet, allowing responders to communicate effectively with non-English speakers in real time. Both video and audio-only interpretation options are available.
- Translation of Written Materials: We translate public education materials, press releases, evacuation instructions, safety guidelines, and informational brochures into nearly 300 languages. This ensures non-English speakers have access to critical information, enhancing their understanding of evacuation procedures, emergency shelters, medical services, and available resources.
- Testing and Training: LanguageLine provides assessments to evaluate the proficiency of bilingual staff and in-house interpreters, ensuring they possess the skills necessary to communicate effectively in high-stakes situations.
