Do you know how to say “pandemic flu” in Creole? (PANDEMIK FLOU) Czech? (NA PANDEMII CHŘIPKY) Korean? (악성 ë…ê°) Or in 20 other languages? Now, you can. New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has recently released a new pamphlet , “Ready New York: Pandemic Flu”. The guide is available for download on the OEM website in 23 different languages. Yes, 23.
Not only must that be a record for preparedness guides, but it just underscores the challenge of communicating important emergency information in diverse urban areas, such as New York. Until this new pamphlet (which was developed with the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), OEM had been publishing its preparedness resources for the public — which my CERT colleagues and I are often asked to distribute —  in 14 languages. You can download any of the 23 pandemic guides here.
1 response so far ↓
1 sukjong // Aug 9, 2009 at 11:12 am
Thanks for posting the news. Language access is indeed critical – I also hope that New York’s 311 lines can similarly offer so many languages for all those people who find themselves without the brochure, in case they get worried.
Found this blog on a google search and it will be a great resource for my research. Thanks!
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