NWS will no longer provide translation services after contract lapse

LORAIN, Ohio (WOIO) - The National Weather Service will no longer provide translations for weather alerts, causing concern among Lorain’s Spanish-speaking community.

“The problem is that if there’s nothing in Spanish, we’d only find out about a storm once it’s right on top of us,” said Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Pacheco in Spanish during an interview with 19 News.

The NWS Product Translations provided urgent weather details in several languages, including Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Samoan and Chinese. Today, NOAA spokesperson Michael Musher confirmed the service would be suspended.

“Due to a contract lapse, NWS paused the automated language translation services for our products until further notice,” the message said.

Victor Leandry, director of the El Centro social services center, says the change could have serious consequences for non-English speakers.

“Somebody knowing that they need to run to their basement for shelter,” he said. “If they don’t get it in their language, it could be the difference between life and death.”

Leandry explained Latinos made up around 30 percent of Lorain’s population, “but a good 60 percent of that, their primary language is Spanish.”

Using 2020 Census data, this would mean more than 10,000 people in Lorain could be directly affected by the weather service change.

19 News reached out to the Cleveland NWS office, to ask if the contract will be renewed, or if this is part of the Department of Government Efficiency cuts; and if the service remains cut, what options are available for non-English speakers. The office did not make anyone available for an interview.

Community leaders like Lorain councilman Angel Arroyo are concerned the NWS cuts could be a sign of more changes that affect their constituents.

“You might cut the weather stations now, then you might cut some ESL classes later...it’s just the little pieces that they’re going to start cutting away,” he said.

The news continues to make others feel they now have to face Mother Nature’s worst by themselves.

“The world depends on the big people,” Rodríguez said. “The little guys are just focused on picking up the little that comes to them.”