Emergency preparedness

The disastrous 2005 hurricane season focused national attention on the need for emergency preparedness. ODHHS is using this focus to help ensure that the deaf and hard of hearing are part of ongoing emergency preparedness planning. We want to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians will be alerted in the event of any kind of emergency.

Nationally, the Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (headed by Neil McDevitt, a deaf Gallaudet graduate), part of the Department of Homeland Security, is finalizing a training module for emergency personnel that will be used in major U.S. cities. The curriculum will train emergency personnel on how to effectively notify deaf and hard of hearing citizens of an emergency and how to appropriately respond to such an emergency.

ODHHS is also involved with the Human Services Building's incident management system, providing advice on how to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing people during crises and evacuations.

For more information, go to the CEPIN Web site or the Gallaudet University's emergency preparedness Web site.

• Winds of change
• Who we are
• Service requests
• Deaf Awareness Month
• Role of the interpreter
• Emergency preparedness
• Network of Care
• Cathy Sanders Interview

• Newsletter archives
• ODHHS Web site
• ODHHS Advisory Committee
• DHS Web site
• Interpreter request

Please contact us with questions, comments or suggestions:

ODHHS
500 Summer St NE E06
Salem, OR 97301

800-358-3117 (Voice/TTY)
odhhs.info@state.or.us

ODHHS News is produced quarterly by the Department of Human Services, Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.