Response Kay Chiodo National Summit on Emergency Management and Assistive Technology Reutilization February 23-24, 2010 Response Kay Chiodo

“Threat To Life” Barriers For Persons with Sensory Disabilities Approximately 33 million Americans have sensory disabilities that affects how they receive or relay information: ● Lack of access to preparedness information; ● Lack of access to emergency alerts/information; ● Lack of access to services… Before, During and After Disasters

AHAS LIFE CYCLE Disaster/Emergency Remote Interpreting Connection (DERIC) AHAS - IN Shelter Link AHAS - Broadcasters Outreach Shelter Link - wireless

What the AHAS™ program does: Accepts authorized alerts/emergency information to be used in multi-modal formats and disseminated to multiple internet capable devices. Provides Broadcasters in the affected areas with AHAS™ alerts/emergency information formatted to be “broadcast compatible - air ready” (Voice, ASL and Text). AHAS-IN™, allows persons with disabilities to voluntarily enroll to receive individual notification of alerts/emergency information. Alerts will be provided in the preferred language modality they specify and delivered to the internet capable device they designate (this service is free to enrollee’s). AHAS™ alerts are typically “Warn level 2” alerts (threat to life or property). Types of alerts are at the discretion of the agency (the State of Texas includes Amber and Silver Alerts). Works with local, State and Federal Agencies in Outreach program to inform, educate and prepare citizens with disabilities for disasters. The following is an example of an educational format: www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/index.htm. Provides ASL access support for shelters via Shelter Link™. Provides Disaster/Emergency Remote Interpreting Connection™ (DERIC) for FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers or other public support areas before, during or after a disaster. Texas’ Accessible Hazard Alert System provides State and County Emergency Managers the ability to provide emergency information/alerts to Broadcasters within the affected area with an “air ready” format in Voice, Sign Language and Text. Texas’ Accessible Hazard Alert System’s Individual Notification gives State or County Emergency Managers another way to contact the persons in the affected area. AHAS sends Individual Notifications to persons with disabilities to enroll in the program. The Individual Notifications are sent to text/internet capable devices, such as, cell phones, pagers, smart phones/pdas and email on computers directing the person to the alert in a accessible format. .

EVENTS THAT MADE AHAS WHAT IT IS TODAY 2004: Executive Order 13347: inclusion of individuals with disabilities to Emergency Preparedness; (AHAS™ was developed for sensory disabilities) 2005: Katrina/Rita exposed weaknesses in planning for Special Needs issues; (AHAS Shelter Link™ debuted in TX shelters for Katrina evacs; AHAS™ alerts debuted with Rita) 2007: FEMA IPAWS pilot program in AL, MS and LA; AHAS was added to the IPAWS program for individuals with disabilities; 2008: Texas Storms (Dolly, Gustav, Edouard and Ike); 2009: Deaf Link receives Allen Clive award at National Hurricane Conference for communicating crucial information to persons with sensory disabilities during disasters.

ASL access in San Antonio Shelter © Deaf Link 2008

ASL Communication / FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) © Deaf Link 2008

Department of Health and Human Services provides Emergency Information for Individuals with Sensory Disabilities http://www.accessibleemergencyinfo.com/

Deaf Link’s Lessons learned 2005 - 2009 Communication is critical, Miscommunication is serious… No communication is deadly. Accessible technology… it works! Accessible preparedness information … it works! When media provides access… it works! When Local, State, Federal and Volunteer Agencies work together to provide access…it works!

Contact Information Kay Chiodo, Chief Executive Officer kaychiodo@deaflink.com 210-590-7446 Dan Heller, Executive VP danheller@deaflink.com 210-590-7446 Mike Houston, National Deaf Liaison/Dir. of Outreach mikeh@deaflink.com 210-590-7446 For more information go to: www.deaflink.com