Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
National Weather Service Suspends Language Translations, Raising Concerns for Non-English Speakers
The National Weather Service (NWS) has discontinued providing language translations for its weather products, a decision experts warn could endanger non-English speaking communities by limiting their access to crucial, potentially life-saving weather alerts about extreme weather events. This suspension of language translations raises significant concerns regarding public safety and equitable access to information from the National Weather Service.
Translation Services “Paused” Due to Contract Expiration
According to NWS spokesperson Michael Musher, the agency has “paused” translation services because its contract with the translation provider has expired. Musher declined to provide further details regarding the situation.
Transition from Manual to AI-Powered Translations
In late 2023, the NWS adopted an artificial intelligence (AI) solution from Lilt, a technology company, to handle translations. This move replaced the previous system of manual translations, which the weather service had deemed overly laborious, unsustainable in the long term, and eventually transitioned to offer translations in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan. The contract expiration occurs amidst the current administration’s efforts to decrease spending across federal agencies, including within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has reportedly led to high employee vacancy rates at NWS offices.
NOAA and Lilt Remain Silent on Contract Details
NOAA directed inquiries concerning the contract matter to a website message confirming the contract’s expiration. Lilt has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.
Vulnerable Populations at Risk
Census data from 2019 indicates that nearly 68 million individuals in the United States speak a language other than English at home, including approximately 42 million Spanish speakers.
Potential Life-or-Death Consequences
Joseph Trujillo-Falcón, a researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who has collaborated with NOAA on translating weather and climate information for the public, including utilizing artificial intelligence, emphasizes the critical importance of accessible weather information. He stated that the inability to comprehend urgent weather alerts could become a matter of life and death for affected individuals.
Spanish Translations Proven Life-Saving
Trujillo-Falcón highlighted an instance during a deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky in 2021 where translated weather alerts proved to be life-saving. He recounted the experience of a Spanish-speaking family who initially disregarded a tornado alert received on their cell phone in English due to a lack of understanding. However, upon receiving the same alert in Spanish, they immediately sought shelter, a decision Trujillo-Falcón believes saved their lives.
Challenges of Manual Translations
Trujillo-Falcón explained that in the past, weather alerts were translated by bilingual forecasters. However, he acknowledged this task could become “completely overwhelming” for forecasters in addition to their primary responsibilities.
Broader Impact Beyond Extreme Weather
Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a senior researcher at the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University, points out that the significance of language translations extends beyond extreme weather events. He notes that general weather forecasts are crucial for various sectors, including tourism, transportation, and energy. When families and businesses can access weather information, including recommended actions, in their native language, they can make more informed decisions.
Language Barriers and Daily Life
Norma Mendoza-Denton, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, highlights that numerous individuals in the U.S. operate with limited English proficiency in the context of specialized information, even if they navigate daily routines effectively. She illustrates this point with the example of a shopkeeper who may converse adequately with customers but might struggle to comprehend complex weather or climate terminology.
Equitable Access to National Weather Service Information
Mendoza-Denton concludes by reiterating the serious implications of the NWS decision: “If they don’t have access to that National Weather Service information in the different languages, that could be the difference between life and death for somebody.”