Millions of Americans don’t speak English. Now they won’t be warned before weather disasters.
Millions of Americans don’t speak English. Now they won’t be warned before weather disasters.
An internal memo reviewed by Grist showed the National Weather Service has stopped translating radio alerts in the southern region, a move that has enraged workers in the local offices.
Now they can do the most American thing of all: Ignore weather warnings.
I mean, what am I supposed to do with a tornado warning? Shelter in my non-existent basement or storm shelter?
I had a series of tornado warnings a couple weeks ago and was freaking out a bit before just figuring there was nothing I could do, so why worry. I then just packed a bowl, blasted some music to try and drown out the sound of the tornado sirens, and hotboxed the room.
You're supposed to move to the safest area in your house, like a bathroom or closet towards the center of the structure, preferably with close walls and no exterior windows, and stay there until the danger has passed. Bring pets and bottled water.
I'm well aware or the recommendations, including that those instructions specifically do NOT apply to mobile homes/trailers. The instructions for mobile homes/trailers is the same as for a car or truck; leave and shelter in the closest appropriate shelter or lie down in a ditch while trying to protect your head.
Oh, sorry. I thought you said you didn't know what you were supposed to do. Laying in a ditch during severe weather is a pretty shitty solution, even if it's technically safer.
In our house, we would just walk out on the porch and watch the neat clouds for an hour or two.