Grand Rapids Hosts Spanish-Language Emergency Training

Community event aims to address language barriers in disaster preparedness.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:35am

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones of gray and white, capturing the overwhelming scale and power of a severe winter storm. The scene dissolves any physical structures into the swirling, atmospheric vortex of heavy snowfall and dramatic lighting, conveying the raw energy of the natural disaster.A community-driven effort to ensure all residents have the knowledge and resources to stay safe during emergencies, regardless of language barriers.Grand Rapids Today

Grand Rapids' Emergency Management Department organized a community emergency response training entirely in Spanish to help the city's significant Spanish-speaking population prepare for disasters. The training, held at a local church, focused on having concrete plans, safe places to go, and emergency kits ready in case of an emergency.

Why it matters

Many Spanish speakers in Grand Rapids face language barriers when it comes to accessing critical emergency preparedness information. This training aims to ensure the entire community is equipped with the knowledge and resources to stay safe during natural disasters or other crises.

The details

The training was led by Grand Rapids Emergency Management Director Benjamin Rance, who discussed the importance of providing emergency preparedness information in Spanish to the city's significant Spanish-speaking population. During the presentation, Rance focused on having concrete plans, safe places to go, and having a kit ready if you find yourself in an emergency.

  • The training was held on April 10, 2026.

The players

Benjamin Rance

The Grand Rapids Emergency Management Director who organized the Spanish-language emergency preparedness training.

Yamilus Popoter

A 10-year-old participant who lived through the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and has since moved to Grand Rapids.

Miguel Abreu

The pastor of Iglesia Cambiando Vidas Sedientas church, where the training was held.

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What they’re saying

“'As someone who speaks Spanish, I really appreciate the fact that it can be difficult to know what to do if you're getting instructions or something in another language.'”

— Benjamin Rance, Grand Rapids Emergency Management Director

“'The best thing that I feel right now is how they feel, how to support one another, and that is part of our goal during this training.'”

— Miguel Abreu, Pastor

“'I can also put this to practice, and I also can teach people how to be prepared.'”

— Yamilus Popoter

What’s next

The Grand Rapids Emergency Management Department plans to continue offering Spanish-language emergency preparedness trainings to ensure the entire community is equipped with the knowledge and resources to stay safe.

The takeaway

This training highlights the importance of providing critical emergency information in multiple languages to ensure all members of the community have access to the resources they need to prepare for and respond to disasters. By addressing language barriers, Grand Rapids is taking an important step towards building a more resilient and inclusive city.