The same emergency system has different language reach
National Weather Service wireless emergency alerts are issued in English and Spanish. Most NWS Emergency Alert System messages carried by radio and television are English-only, and state and local authorities sent most of their wireless alerts only in English from December 2019 through December 2024, according to GAO.
That difference matters because local alerts can contain evacuation instructions not included in a weather-service warning. A bilingual federal weather alert does not guarantee that the next local protective-action message is bilingual.
AI translation exists, but coverage is limited
NWS uses artificial intelligence to translate some forecasts, watches and warnings into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, French and Samoan. As of December 2025, about one-quarter of forecast offices and the National Hurricane Center participated.
Five languages and one-quarter participation are meaningful operational facts, but they are not nationwide access. GAO also found that the agency had not documented measurable performance goals, required funding and staffing, or long-term obstacles and mitigation strategies.
| Channel or project | Documented reach | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| NWS wireless emergency alerts | English and Spanish | No broader language set |
| Radio/TV Emergency Alert System | Mostly English | Few multilingual transmitters; incomplete broadcast data |
| NWS AI translation | 5 languages | About one-quarter of forecast offices |
| Carrier template requirement | English plus 14 languages | Effective in 2028 |
A 2028 rule does not close today’s gap
The Federal Communications Commission adopted requirements for wireless carriers to support template alerts in English and 14 other languages beginning in 2028. Templates can expand reach, but they cannot automatically translate every location-specific sentence or make broadcasters air every message.
GAO estimates 26 million U.S. residents have limited English ability. The public-interest test is therefore not whether translation technology exists, but whether a resident receives timely, accurate instructions in the relevant language across the entire alert chain.
Method, agency response and limits
GAO analyzed FEMA wireless-alert data for 2019 through 2024, reviewed laws and agency records, and interviewed federal, state, local, industry and community representatives. NOAA agreed with GAO’s recommendation for an updated implementation plan; the recommendation remains open.
The review does not measure translation accuracy for every issued product or show how many people acted on an alert. It establishes a planning and coverage gap, not that every English-only message caused harm.