Effective and efficient communications with the public are critical following an emergency or disaster. However, sharing this life safety information is not helpful for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) who cannot understand everything being said. To address this issue, the Washington State Legislature approved RCW 38.52.070, which requires that all emergency communications be shared in languages spoken by significant portions of the jurisdiction’s population. This law seeks to ensure all residents can receive life safety information following a disaster and are able to take necessary actions to protect themselves and their families. The city would benefit from research regarding which languages are most frequently used and should be translated for Bellevue, strategies for communicating effectively with non-English speaking populations during emergencies, and the development of stronger relationships with local non-English speaking communities.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Livable City Year Contact Info
Teri Thomson Randall
Program Manager
terir@uw.edu
206.221.9240
University Faculty Contact
Mark Chen
Interactive Media Design
Local Government / Community Contact
Enzhou Wang
Information Technology