AACRE: Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality

Help All Californians in a Disaster: Support AB 1930

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Southern California wildfires, it is critical that our state's emergency preparedness, response, and recovery system accounts for the needs of limited English proficient communities. As home to over 6 million limited English proficient (LEP) individuals, however, California also poses unique challenges for disaster responders. Forty percent of Asian American and Latino communities are LEP, and certain ethnic groups including Central Americans and Southeast Asians have even higher rates of limited English proficiency.

Before another major disaster strikes California, the Little Hoover Commission has highlighted that our state and local agencies must be prepared to accommodate communication for large numbers of LEP individuals. AB 1930 (Torrico) would build upon and strengthen our state's existing emergency preparedness, response, and recovery system to address this need. It would have the Office of Emergency Services disseminate guidance to local governmental entities outlining best practices and methods for improving emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. It would additionally require Office of Emergency Services to consider the needs of LEP populations in all their committee recommendations and review of emergency plans. Finally, it would have the Office of Emergency Services incorporate the needs of LEP populations in training exercises for emergency responders and utilize an existing registry of state personnel for assistance.

Please take a moment to show how important this issue is to your community by sending a support letter to Assembly Member Torrico, the author of the legislation. Thank you!

Subject: AB 1930 (Torrico) - SUPPORT

Dear Mr. Torrico:

I am writing to express my support for AB 1930 (Torrico), legislation that will improve our state's emergency preparedness, response, and recovery to safeguard the needs of individuals with limited English proficiency during a disaster.

California has long been prone to disasters, and emergency preparedness planning at the state and local levels is critical for ensuring our state is equipped to recover from any disaster situation.  As home to over 6 million individuals with limited English proficiency, however, California also poses unique challenges for disaster responders.  Forty percent of Asian American and Latino communities are limited English proficient, and certain ethnic groups including Central Americans and Southeast Asians have even higher rates of limited English proficiency.  The state's emergency preparedness planning must account for the needs of our significant LEP population.

In any emergency situation, communication with the public is critical for conveying important instructions and procedures, thereby saving lives and minimizing injuries and damage. Unfortunately, during the recent wildfire evacuation in California, there was a lack of language assistance to adequately communicate with evacuees.  The lack of communication can result in serious consequences.  Congressional testimony highlighted the story of a Vietnamese man in Mississippi, who spent five days in a wrecked fishing boat and nearly was killed, because he did not understand the evacuation orders issued prior to Hurricane Katrina.

AB 1930 will better equip the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to interact with individuals of limited English proficiency during emergencies. Designed to strengthen our state's emergency system, AB 1930's provisions include building stronger partnerships between OES and the ethnic media and community-based organizations, developing assistance for local and regional governmental entities, and improving the agency's trainings and exercises to address the needs of limited English proficient communities.

Thank you for your leadership in authoring this important legislation.

Sincerely,

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This letter will be sent to the following individual(s):
Alberto Torrico, CA State Legislator, District 20, Democratic Party

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Help All Californians in a Disaster: Support AB 1930