Emergency information more
accessible to Deaf community
during Hurricane Irma
A
ccurate, verified and
timely emergency
information during
a crisis makes a
difference in the safety of citizens’
lives, families and property. To
ensure this information is reaching
all audiences, including the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing, Georgia
Emergency Management and
Homeland Security Agency took
steps to ensure that members of
that community weren’t overlooked
during Hurricane Irma by using
Deaf Interpreters to convey
emergency information. The positive
feedback from the community is an
indication that this simple step has
made a significant difference in the
lives and safety of Deaf or Hard of
Hearing Georgians.
David Cowan, a freelance Deaf
Interpreter and Deaf community
activist, was one of the Interpreters
who stood front and center of this
communication effort when he
interpreted Governor Nathan Deal’s
press conferences into American
Sign Language. In addition to
the press conferences, Cowan
worked alongside GEMAHS in
producing emergency information
videos regarding evacuations,
travel information, sheltering, and
more. The ASL videos he created
were shared via state social media
channels, which were then further
shared with members of the Deaf
community.
12
By Brandy Mai
David Cowan (left) signs for Governor Nathan Deal during a a Hurricane Irma
press conference at the State Operations Center. To effectively communicate
the information at a press conference, it requires a team of interpreters — one
hearing and one Deaf. The hearing interpreter signs the spoken information to the
Deaf Interpreter, who then translates and signs it to the Deaf community.
His interpreting provided
members of the Deaf community
with valuable information during the
crisis.
“There are 32 million Deaf
people in the United States, and
Hurricane Irma was one of the
first times the Deaf community was
getting direct information in ASL
about the emergency,” Cowan said.
“It not only impacted Georgia; it
impacted the entire nation.”
“Having a Deaf Interpreter
participate in our public information
efforts was monumental in getting
our message to the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing community,” said
Catherine Howden, Chief of Staff of
GEMA/HS. “Access to emergency
information was critical during
Hurricane Irma, and we are thankful
we were able to provide that to the
Deaf community. We continuously
work to improve communications
and outreach to all Georgia
citizens, but we know there’s more
to do.”
While Cowan was signing
information for Georgia residents
about evacuations and safety
information, he was also receiving
messages from other communities,
specifically the Florida and Spanish-
speaking Deaf