Official Government Website
Emergency Preparedness Information
Creating a plan for what to do in an emergency is necessary for everyone. Disasters come in so many forms and no one is immune from the expected: Severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, earthquake, fire and so on…Have a strategy in place before something bad happens is key to maintaining you and your family’s comfort and safety.
Emergencies happen across the country in various forms: hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires, terrorist attacks, and other natural and manmade disasters. In emergencies, up-to-date information is lifesaving. But too often, this information is not accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.
The time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens.
Communication systems must be put in place in advance – before an emergency happens – to make sure deaf and hard of hearing people know about emergencies and how to respond. There is no “one” system that is best for alerting citizens in an emergency. Instead, emergency communication systems should be “redundant” – the message should be sent out to as many people and in as many formats as possible (by television, radio, phone/TTY, computer, cell phone, text messaging, pager, and other means).
- Some private companies and government agencies provide emergency alerts through e-mail systems and text messaging. These systems can offer quick transmission of critical information to people with the appropriate devices and updated contact information. Some communities have a system for the police department or other emergency notification agency to make emergency voice and TTY calls to inform people in a designated area. To see if your local government offers this type of emergency notification, contact your area NON-EMERGENCY police number.
- State and local governments and emergency service providers may have planning committees, meetings, and training programs to help people prepare for emergencies. In most cases, these organizations are required to ensure effective communication with deaf and hard of hearing individuals by providing accommodations, such as qualified interpreters, CART, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids or services.
In addition to accumulating the necessary basics, your plan should focus on the following:
- The best way to get to safety (in home and away from it)
- Methods of communication
- How to reunite after the disaster
FAQS
Frequently asked questions
People who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing may text 911 or call 911 using their preferred form of phone communication (including voice, TTY, video relay, caption relay, or real-time text). If you do text 911 in an emergency, be aware that 911 dispatchers will ask you if they can call you.
Broadly defined, communication for deaf individuals occurs through visual, auditory or tactile modes (for individuals who are deafblind). Common visual communication modes include American Sign Language (ASL), Cued Speech, speech reading (lip reading), and gestures.
People who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing may text 911 or call 911 using their preferred form of phone communication (including voice, TTY, video relay, caption relay, or real-time text). If you do text 911 in an emergency, be aware that 911 dispatchers will ask you if they can call you.
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