Strengthening Disaster Workforce Communication: A Focus on the Latino Community in Hillsborough County, Florida

Authors

• Ariana S. Albaladejo-Barreto, University of South Florida
• Ann Dai, University of South Florida
• Jude Ogden, University of South Florida
• Ratna Dougherty, University of South Florida
• Elizabeth A. Dunn, University of South Florida

Document Type

Poster Session

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

• Vulnerable populations, particularly non-English speakers, face disproportionate challenges during disasters. In Hillsborough County, Florida, 30% of residents speak a language other than English, with approximately 19% being proficient in Spanish.
• Latino communities, the largest group of Spanish speakers in the county, have experienced significant disparities in risk communication during life-threatening weather events (Trujillo-Falcón et al., 2022).
• Although the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan identifies non-English- speaking households as vulnerable populations, it lacks specific provisions for bilingual training for first responders.
• At the state level, the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 prohibits discrimination based on national origin, while Chapter 252 of Florida Statutes encourages educational outreach for individuals with limited English proficiency. However, these statutes do not mandate language training for emergency personnel, revealing a gap between policy recognition and the development of actionable preparedness strategies for linguistically diverse communities.

Scholar Commons Citation

Albaladejo-Barreto, Ariana S.; Dai, Ann; Ogden, Jude; Dougherty, Ratna; and Dunn, Elizabeth A., "Strengthening Disaster Workforce Communication: A Focus on the Latino Community in Hillsborough County, Florida" (2025). Weather, Climate, and Society REU. 1.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/weather-climate-society_reu/1