Thread: N Orleans- Recovery Crews Say Translators Needed In The City

Recovery Crews Say Translators Needed In The City
Cyndi Nguyen ABC26

November 2, 2006

Lack of communication made evacuation tough for many of our Spanish and Vietnamese neighbors before Katrina but thanks to the American Translators Association, getting information out the next time a storm hits may be easier now.

Based on a number of early calculations from the city government, there's no telling how many migrant workers -- many of them Spanish -- are now living in the Crescent City. Thousands more are a growing part of the reconstruction efforts.

That's why more than 1200 folks with the American Translators Association are in town to unveil new changes to how the city prepares for a natural disaster. Association member Kevin Hendzel says the association decided to return to the Crescent City because members feel the city needs the extra support.

"We had a made a decision over a year ago right after Katrina that we wanted to come down here and support the city, and the reason we did that was because very often, translators and interpreters often go into areas of disaster and provide support, so it made sense to come here at this time," says Hendzel.

Elizabeth Nazar is a New Orleans native who had to evacuate. As a freelance translator, she says she knows firsthand all the issues facing this multi-cultural city. Nazar says those issues include people needing help filling out important documents to getting the right information in case the next storm comes along.

"One area that is greatly underdeveloped is the healthcare system. The system usually has a lot of interpretors to help people get their medical services, and now there is a shortage of doctors, translators and interpretors,"says Nazar.

Post - Katrina, the association says it has been working with both the city and federal government on translating various emergency materials for two groups that suffered the most during katrina because of a lack of communication. Members say during Katrina, both the Hispanic and Vietnamese community were particularly hard hit, and there wasn't enough done to prepare these communities to evacuate and what to do after evacuation.

The association also provided translated materials for the city's evacuation plan and a number of public service announcements, all of which will help folks prepare for the next storm.

Members say the last time the association was here in the Crescent City was 15 years ago. Members say they recognize the decision to come back was crucial because they know their work here is greatly needed.

http://abc26.trb.com/news/wgno_news1101 ... gno-home-2

Don't send in translators. Send in ICE and you will no longer need the translators.

W