When disaster strikes and seconds count, the City of Austin is ensuring that members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community won't be left in the dark. The city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) has debuted a service specifically designed to alert Austinites in American Sign Language (ASL), providing emergency messages to those who might otherwise miss out on critical alerts.
Director of HSEM Ken Snipes expressed the city's commitment to inclusivity, stating in a press release "HSEM is committed to providing equitable access to emergency information." Snipes highlighted conversations with disability advocacy groups as a catalyst for developing more inclusive methods to reach all residents, such groups having informed and refined the communication strategy allowing disabled individuals to see themselves reflected in the city's emergency plans, according to the City of Austin.
A first-of-its-kind in the nation, Austin's Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS) takes the city's emergency warning process into the 21st century, sending out messages in both ASL and English, consisting of videos of ASL interpreters, voiceovers, and text, the videos can be accessed on a wide array of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and even wireless Braille readers, aiming to ensure that information barriers do not cost lives during emergencies.
To access these potentially life-saving alerts, residents in need can sign up by visiting the AHAS website or by simply texting 'AHAS' to a designated number; once signed up they will receive the messages on capable devices where they can view a person signing the emergency information in ASL and the emergency information is also posted on the city's dedicated Emergency Alerts webpage, which offers resources in 14 languages, ensuring diverse linguistic needs are also me, as per the City of Austin.
