Millions of people received false evacuation alerts during the Los Angeles wildfires, raising concerns about language accessibility for non-English and non-Spanish speakers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a mandate two years ago to expand wireless emergency alerts to include 13 languages and American sign language. However, this update has faced delays since the Trump administration, preventing the alerts from reaching the diverse linguistic population in the U.S.

California Congresswoman Nanette Barragán highlights the importance of linguistic inclusivity for emergency alerts, emphasizing the need for all individuals to comprehend critical information during disasters. The FCC’s delay in updating the alert system has been attributed to an executive order signed by President Trump, hindering the progress of implementing multilingual alerts.

While FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez acknowledges the agency’s ability to publish rules and orders, she questions the delay in updating the emergency alert system. The urgency for inclusive alerts is underscored by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, where a UCLA study revealed that many Asian Americans did not understand evacuation messages due to language barriers.

Advocates, including the Congressional caucuses, urge the FCC to expedite the publication of the report and order to enable multilingual alerts, emphasizing the potential life-saving impact of accessible emergency information. As climate-related disasters become more frequent, the need for inclusive alerts becomes paramount to ensure the safety of all individuals, regardless of their spoken language.