AUSTIN (KXAN) – Ahead of Thursday’s severe weather, the Travis County Office of Emergency Management sent out an “unintelligible” emergency alert in Spanish. After receiving feedback, the office sent out an additional alert.
“Honestly, I couldn’t tell it was Spanish,” said District Four Council Member José “Chito” Vela. “It was very difficult to understand. Very strained, really unintelligible.”
The City confirmed the original message was an automated translation of an English message that was also sent out. After receiving several complaints, the department sent out another emergency alert, but this time had a Spanish speaker record the message.
“Luckily, I’m fluent in Spanish. I knew that it sounded like complete gibberish. Frankly, [it] sounded like some kind of like a computer version of a Texan trying to speak Spanish that clearly was not a native-speaking computer,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.
“I talked to Eric Carter, my emergency manager to make sure that in the future, we don’t use the computer – that we use a human being. He made sure that we would do that,” Brown continued.
Travis County (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Ahead of Thursday’s severe weather, the Travis County Office of Emergency Management sent out an “unintelligible” emergency alert in Spanish. After receiving feedback, the office sent out an additional alert.
“Honestly, I couldn’t tell it was Spanish,” said District Four Council Member José “Chito” Vela. “It was very difficult to understand. Very strained, really unintelligible.”
The City confirmed the original message was an automated translation of an English message that was also sent out. After receiving several complaints, the department sent out another emergency alert, but this time had a Spanish speaker record the message.
“Luckily, I’m fluent in Spanish. I knew that it sounded like complete gibberish. Frankly, [it] sounded like some kind of like a computer version of a Texan trying to speak Spanish that clearly was not a native-speaking computer,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.
“I talked to Eric Carter, my emergency manager to make sure that in the future, we don’t use the computer – that we use a human being. He made sure that we would do that,” Brown continued.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
10 pairs of comfortable and cozy wool slippers
Comfort / 8 hours ago
6 heated mattress pad safety tips
Mattresses & Pillows / 8 hours ago
Best cleansers for every skin type
Skin Treatments / 8 hours ago
Top Stories
More Stories
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
KXAN Breaking News Alerts
Austin-Travis County
Austin is the fastest-growing city for millionaires
Austin / 3 hours ago
What’s next for Project Connect light rail plan
Austin / 6 hours ago
CapMetro Broadmoor Station not yet under construction
Austin / 6 hours ago
APD launches new AI non-emergency reporting system
Austin / 2 hours ago
Vehicle fire on I-35 frontage road now clear
Austin / 5 hours ago
LIST: Free SXSW 2023 events
SXSW / 8 hours ago
What’s next after downtown homeless shelter closes?
Austin / 7 hours ago
Person hit, killed on I-35 over the weekend
Austin / 8 hours ago
Tornado and severe t-storm watches issued for some
Forecast / 30 mins ago
Woman ID’d in deadly crash on FM 620
Austin / 10 hours ago
LIVE BLOG: Severe thunderstorms hit Central Texas
News / 2 mins ago
TIMELINE: 5 years since the Austin bombings
Austin explosions / 3 hours ago
18-wheeler crash blocks northbound I-35 upper deck
Austin / 7 hours ago
7 hurt after turbulence hits Austin to Germany flight
News / 6 hours ago
Horns stumble on the road, lose to TCU 75-73
Horns Report / 17 hours ago
Concerns about loose, downed limbs ahead of storms
Local / 19 hours ago
State resources available ahead of severe weather
Texas / 22 hours ago
KXAN Austin Video
// –>
Tracking the Coronavirus
Austin Weather
Current
77°
Partly Cloudy
Tonight
51°
Windy
Precip: 0%
Tomorrow
75°
Sunny
Precip: 0%
Trending Stories
Don’t Miss
Latest weather conditions from the KXAN First Warning Weather team