Lack of Resources for Non-English Speakers During Severe Weather
Harrisonburg, Va.

With the threat of severe weather moving into the Valley Wednesday night, it takes community involvement to keep people safe.

Updated: 7:25 PM Apr 27, 2011

With the threat of severe weather moving into the Valley Wednesday night, it takes community involvement to keep people safe.

However, one person who works for a local Hispanic newspaper says the Hispanic community faces a greater obstacle.

Fernando Gamboa, with the Nuevas Raices newspaper, says he's concerned for some parts of his community in the case of severe weather, because there is a lack in resources to reach Hispanics.

He says there is no radio station to inform Spanish speakers of alerts and says it's difficult to reach everyone in emergency situations.

Still, Gamboa says the Hispanic community can come together to make a difference.

"In these cases, you know severe weather arrives, something happens. It's very sensitive that people have to pass on this information today to the neighborhood because that can make a difference between being still alive or dying," says Gamboa.

He recommends Hispanics who do speak English and Spanish reach out to their neighbors and inform them of weather updates.

Gomboa says another issue for the local community is the lack of Spanish news television stations in the area, and because of it Hispanics turn to networks and miss some of the important local news.

http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/Lack ... 14669.html