Messaging Tools

150+ Translated Messages

View the messages in a Google Spreadsheet at bit.ly/HeatMessages. Languages include English, Arabic, Bosnian, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Chuukese, Farsi Persian, French (Togolese), Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Rohingya, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Telugu, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. 

Illustrations 

Illustrations copyright free and stored in Google Drive. 

Audio Files of Key Messages

WAV files of these key messages in Arabic, Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin, Chuukese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Telugu, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. 

100+ Translated Messages

View the messages in a Google Spreadsheet at bit.ly/WinterMessages. Languages include English, Arabic, Bosnian, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Chuukese, Farsi Persian, French (Togolese), Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Rohingya, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Telugu, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. 

Illustrations & Fliers 

Illustrations copyright free and stored in a Google Drive. You may also use these fliers in English, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, and Vietnamese. 

Audio Files of Key Messages

MP3 and MP4 files of these key messages in English, Arabic (with English), Mandarin Chinese (with English), Russian (with English), Somali (with English), Spanish (with English, with images), Vietnamese (with English). 

Anyone is welcome to use and share the resources on this page. They are a product of the Critical Safety Messaging project, coordinated by the Disaster Messaging Work Group of the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO.org). The project is funded by the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). The project manager is Kate Szrom (kate.szrom@portlandoregon.gov). 

Messages

Messages were gathered from many community partners, public agencies, and other subject matter experts in the Portland Metro Region. The goal was to address the needs of those most impacted by disasters, such as people living outside, people with low incomes, older adults, people with medical needs vulnerable to power outages, people who do not speak or read English, and people hesitant to use utilities because of the expenses. 

Translations

Translations are by a local vendor with a focus on cultural competency. They have been reviewed by community partners. Languages are selected using Metro’s Factor 1 Analysis and feedback from community-based organizations.

Illustrations 

Illustrations were designed to be visually informative and instructive; reflect our many communities; be scientifically and technically accurate yet friendly, non-terrifying, approachable, empowering, and culturally competent; communicate valuable information visually to low-literacy viewers; have color for social media/digital applications/color printing; have blank space around for adding safety message text; be formattable into a variety of formats for social media; have high contrast of tones that print clearly on black and white low-quality printers; and be unbranded so anyone can use them. The illustrations include translated alt-text. 

Audio Files 

Audio files of recorded messages allow community partners to send safety messages to those who have low literacy or cannot read English. They can share the messages using the apps that are popular in the communities they serve, such as WhatsApp, WeChat, and Telegram. 

Future Message Creation

Winter weather messages were developed in Fall 2021. Extreme heat messages are expected to be released in May 2022. Next stages of the project will focus on wildfire and smoke.