Austin's new emergency alert system to serve blind, deaf or hard of hearing communities

Austin News Briefs - Austin American Statesman

To improve the quality of life of Austin's deaf, blind and hard of hearing populations, the city and Travis County this week launched a system to send emergency alerts in American Sign Language. Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Travis County Office of Emergency Management partnered with Deaf Link — an all-service interpreting agency — to launch the Accessible Hazard Alert System for those who are deaf, blind, visually or hearing-impaired. A spokesperson for Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said the record-breaking February freeze that caused power and water outages throughout Texas also showed the need to get timely emergency and weather-related warnings and information to everyone in the city, he said.