Emergency Preparedness Archives - NVRC.org - Archive

FCC Requires “Bounce-Back Messages” when Texting to 911 is Unavailable

May 20, 2013 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, Technology

Wireless Carriers and Providers of Interconnected Text Messaging Must Send “Bounce-Back” Messages to Consumers Who Text 911 Where the Service is Not Offered

On May 17, 2013, the FCC released a Report and Order requiring a “bounce back” message to consumers who try to text 911 where text-to-911 is not available. The FCC’s requirement will help protect the public by informing consumers who try to text 911 whether or not the 911 authorities received the text message. If the message has not been received, consumers will receive an immediate response that text-to-911 is not available and to contact emergency services by another means, such as by making a voice call or using telecommunications relay services (if deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled) to access 911. This FCC action implements in part recommendations from the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC), which the Commission established under the Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.

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Pittsburgh Firefighters Sue Over Siren Hearing Loss

April 24, 2013 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, Hearing Loss & Deafness

From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/23/2013

Four Pittsburgh firefighters filed a lawsuit Monday against several manufacturers alleging loud sirens on the trucks they use for their jobs have caused hearing loss.

Three of the firefighters, Ralph N. Bilski, Jeremiah Dengler and Roger J. Maher III have been employed by the city since at least 1981, and another, Mark W. Godlewski, was hired in 2000. They claim the sirens have caused irreversible hearing damage.

The complaint names as defendants American Lafrance, E-One Inc., Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp., Mack Trucks Inc., Pierce Manufacturing Inc., Seagrave Fire Apparatus and Federal Signal Corp.

The lawsuit alleges that the trucks were defective in that they lacked sufficient insulation to protect firefighters’ hearing. In addition, the plaintiffs claim that the companies that made the sirens, as well as the truck manufacturers, failed to provide warnings about their use.

The lawsuit does not name the city of Pittsburgh as a defendant. City solicitor Dan Regan said he couldn’t comment because he hadn’t seen the lawsuit.

He referred calls to Public Safety Director Mike Huss, who did not return a message late Monday.

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Distributed 2013 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030; www.nvrc.org; 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. Items in this newsletter are provided for information purposes only; NVRC does not endorse products or services. This news service is free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Frederick, MD to Provide Ability to Text to 911

March 25, 2013 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, Technology

Maryland County to Offer 911 Texting for Speaking, Hearing Impaired

From CBS Baltimore 3/22/2013, and Fire Engineering 3/24/2013

Frederick County (MD) is one of the first jurisdictions in the country to offer the option to text 911, reports CBS Baltimore. It’s a standard greeting: “Baltimore City 911. Operator 1232. Where is your emergency?” But what if you can’t hear the question, or say where that fire is burning or where that ambulance is needed?

At Frederick County’s 911 center, they have expanded beyond voice communication. Verizon customers will have the option to text 911.

“It will be just like a chat session people may be familiar with, where both messages will pop up–the message from the caller and then the text we’re typing to reply,” said Jack Markey, Dir. Frederick County Emergency Management. “And we’ll lead them through a series of questions to dispatch the appropriate resources.”

Frederick County is an early adopter of this technology for a good reason. It is the home of the main campus of Maryland’s School for the Deaf, where many on staff see a real need for texting 911. “And something happens and we can’t help. We have to call someone, you know what I mean, we can’t call,” said Rex Moers, Dean of Students.

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Help Research by Taking a Survey on Emergency Communications

February 12, 2013 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, Technology

Help Research by Taking a Survey on Emergency Communications

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) is asking for individuals to take its new online survey on emergency communications. The survey questions address emergency services, public alerts and warnings, and social media use during emergencies.

The Wireless RERC conducted this survey once before, almost two years ago. Because technology is changing so rapidly and new government rules are being implemented, RERC think it’s the right time to conduct the survey again. The data will be of great interest to regulatory authorities and other professionals working to improve emergency response and disaster relief for people with disabilities.

New to this version of the survey is the inclusion of a question for the respondent to identify if he/she is a caregiver. In this way, the RERC hopes to collect data on the caregiver experience as it relates to emergency communications technologies and behaviors, as well as the experiences of individuals with disabilities.

Take the Survey on Emergency Communications and People with Disabilities

Wireless RERC announcement regarding the 2012 Survey on Emergency Communications and People with Disabilities

More about the Wireless RERC:

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. Their mission is to research, evaluate and develop innovative wireless technologies and products that meet the needs, enhance independence, and improve quality of life and community participation of people with disabilities.

Distributed 2013 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030; www.nvrc.org; 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. Items in this newsletter are provided for information purposes only; NVRC does not endorse products or services. This news service is free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.

NVRC – Winter Weather Information

January 25, 2013 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, NVRC Announcements

Finding Weather Information on the Web:
The Weather Channel www.weather.com
Enter your zip code in the box at the top of the page to get a forecast for your area.

Local TV stations (videos are not captioned)::
www.wusa9.com (WUSA 9)
http://www.wjla.com/ (WJLA)
http://www.nbcwashington.com/ (WRC 4)
http://www.myfoxdc.com/ (WTTG5)

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Winter Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories- What do they all Mean?

The National Weather Service uses specific winter weather terms to ensure that people know what to expect in the coming days and hours . A Winter Storm Watch means that severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice, may affect your area, but its occurrence, location and timing are still uncertain. A winter storm watch is issued to provide 12 to 36 hours notice of the possibility of severe winter weather. A winter storm watch is intended to provide enough lead time so those who need to set plans in motion can do so. A watch is upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning when 4 or more inches of snow or sleet is expected in the next 12 hours, or 6 or more inches in 24 hours, or 1/4 inch or more of ice accumulation is expected. Winter Weather Advisories inform you that winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences that may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, advisory situations should not become life-threatening. A Blizzard Warning means that snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill. Be sure to listen carefully to the radio, television, and NOAA Weather Radio for the latest winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories. For additional information, visit the Winter Weather Awareness web page at: http://www.weather.gov/om/winter

R.I. Disaster Recovery Centers Offer New Services

December 11, 2012 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, Employment

From Jamestown Press, 12/6/2012

FEMA centers equipped for hearing impaired The Federal Emergency Management Agency and R.I. Department of Labor and Training have added new services to the disaster recovery centers to help Rhode Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy. These include American Sign Language interpreters and specialists who can help with unemployment insurance.

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Wireless RERC’s Survey on Emergency Communications

December 3, 2012 in Advocacy & Access, Emergency Preparedness

The Wireless RERC needs your help with a survey on emergency communications. The survey questions address emergency services, public alerts and warnings, and social media use during emergencies. This survey was conducted once before, almost two years ago. Because technology is changing so rapidly and new government rules are being implemented, they are conducting the survey again. The data will be of great interest to regulatory authorities and other professionals working to improve emergency response and disaster relief for people with access and functional needs.

Read more . . . →

Ilinois Deaf/HOH Commission Disaster Preparedness Videos

March 14, 2012 in Community News, Emergency Preparedness, NVRC Announcements

Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Releases Emergency Preparedness Videos

The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) has collaborated with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to release a series of videos “Emergency Preparedness: Together We Prepare.” The videos are intended to instruct individuals and families on how to prepare for a natural disaster. All are shown in American Sign Language and have captions.

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