Bridging the Language Barrier During the Puerto Rico Earthquake
The USGS Recognizes Dianne Lopez-Trujillo During Hispanic Heritage Month
What happens when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Puerto Rico and the public needs critical information? How does a mostly English-speaking science agency reach a mostly Spanish-speaking public?
The USGS relies on its greatest asset – its employees! In the case of the Southwestern Puerto Rico earthquake sequence, Dianne Lopez-Trujillo is one employee from the USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center that stepped up to make a difference for those in need.
Within a day of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 7, 2020, Dianne volunteered to assist the USGS Earthquake Response Team. As a USGS information technology specialist for 29 years, Dianne initially joined to assist with computer issues. However, it quickly became apparent that the team desperately required the additional skills that only Dianne could provide.
Dianne worked around-the-clock to translate more than a dozen communications products, online content, talking points and media interview responses from English to Spanish to reach the local community. She dedicated hundreds of hours of cultural and language support that was critical to fulfilling the needs of media, government officials and the public.
Dianne truly possesses a unique set of skills in emergency management. In the midst of a chaotic emergency environment, she calmly and competently briefed senior heads of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as senior officials from the Puerto Rico government. She also helped to maintain coordination with the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, an important USGS partner.
During a high-level congressional event, the USGS briefed four congressional delegates, the Puerto Rico lieutenant governor and local mayors. Dianne provided vital assistance as part of the team to make this important event happen.
Dianne has no ego when it came to tasks. From support tasks for the team to the development of complex strategy, she was thoroughly engaged every step of the emergency response. She did whatever was asked of her, no matter how small or large the task and volunteered wherever she saw the need – the definition of a true teammate.
“Dianne truly displays what it means to be part of the USGS family,” said Sara McBride, USGS Chief of Operations for the Southwestern Puerto Rico earthquake response. “Her love of science, coupled with her knowledge of emergency management best practices and her desire to help her community better understand these natural events, made her a key member of the USGS team during this response.”
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