Donna Platt
Division of Services for the Deaf and                     the Hard of Hearing,  March 9, 2017 

Emergency Communications Approaches During and After an Emergency 
State of North Carolina
DR 4285- Hurricane Matthew
How N.C. responds to a disaster 
Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (DSDHH)
DSDHH Mission Statement
The Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing works to ensure that all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind North Carolinians have the ability to communicate their needs, and to receive information easily and effectively in all aspects of their lives, especially their health and well-being.
Examples of Announcements
Examples of Announcements
(continued)
•	DSDHH Regional Center E-blasts
•	Word of mouth or “signs”
•	Local Emergency Notification Services 

Examples of Announcements
(continued)
Examples of Announcements
(continued)
Partnering with FEMA 
•	FEMA Disability Integration Advisors 

•	Teleconferencing and e-blast with agencies serving disabilities
Local Community Meetings
•	Hosted by local (city/county) government or emergency management for residents. FEMA was invited to give overview of their services.  
•	Announcement to public in a short notice
•	Communication accommodations (interpreters and real time captioning) provided by FEMA. Sometimes not available. 
•	Transportation to event may be limited
•	Limited opportunity for Q&A

Examples of Community Announcements
An email sent from FEMA:

Hi, Donna.  We will have interpreters at the Robeson County Commissioner’s meeting tonight (6 p.m. at 710 N Elm in Lumberton, NC).  This is not a FEMA hosted meeting, FEMA staff were just asked to attend to provide an overview of the FEMA process.  Because it is not our meeting, I do not have an invitation or anything like that.  However, because we have FEMA staff speaking, we will have our interpreters and CART reporters available
Example of DSDHH Regional Center’s E-blast
FYI to Robeson Co.:  
 
Subject: Community Meeting Information
 
We will have interpreters at the Robeson County Commissioner’s meeting tonight (6 p.m. at 710 N Elm in Lumberton, NC).  This is not a FEMA hosted meeting, FEMA staff were just asked to attend to provide an overview of the FEMA process.  However, because we have FEMA staff speaking, we will have our interpreters and CART reporters available.
  
Hope you can plan to attend and provide input as deem appropriate. Feel free to contact us at the Wilmington        RC if you have questions. 

FEMA Request for Assistance 
Hi Donna,
 
We are trying to identify if there is a greater need for ASL in any of the following communities to better coordinate our interpreters.  Thanks so much
Generation  Church – 6 p.m.
Goldsboro, NC 27534

West Pender Middle School – 5:30 p.m.
Burgaw, NC
Tarboro High School – 7 p.m.
Tarboro, NC 27886
Benson Elementary School 
Benson, NC 27504
Setting up Events for Individuals with Hearing Loss
•	Set up date, time and length of event – preferably where Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing individuals meet on a regular basis

•	Separate event from local community meetings provides personal interaction & attention – more opportunity for Q&A
•	Reserve a meeting room
•	Develop rough agenda for that event 

Setting up Events for Individuals with Hearing Loss (continued)

•	Invite FEMA and collaborate on meeting expectations

•	Work with FEMA Disability Integration Advisor        from the Joint Field Office in preparation

•	Compromise on communication accommodations (interpreters, real time captioning  and assistive listening equipment) with FEMA

Example of Communication Accommodations

Setting up Events for Individuals with Hearing Loss (continued)
•	Attraction from public to an event that includes                 refreshment
•	Develop announcement (flyer, vlog, Facebook) for public 
•	Ask the contact person in charge of meeting place for internet access (FEMA registration and/or remote captioning)
•	Find out which wireless carrier has strong signal at the event location

Event Announcements 
 
Event Announcements (continued)  
 
Vlogs in American Sign Language
 
Vlogs in American Sign Language
(continued)
 
FEMA Representatives
•	Disaster Survivor Assistance (Fill out form to receive assistance)

•	Individual Assistance (IA)

•	Small Business Administration (SBA) (not just for business but for individual receiving loan)

•	Mitigation

•	National Flood Insurance Program

•	Exit Interview (N.C. Emergency Management Recovery)

Questions? 
Contact Information 
Donna Platt 

Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

N.C. Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing

(919) 578 – 1262 voice/videophone 
Donna.Platt@dhhs.nc.gov