Assistance Available for Hurricane
Victims who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing CEPIN Regional Centers Standing by to
Assist Displaced Individuals and Families
Emergency assistance plans have been put in place for Hurricane
Katrina victims who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. The
Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) Project has
designated CSD of Oklahoma and Northern Resource Virginia Center for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC) as CEPIN contact centers for
Hurricane Katrina victims and their families.
Agencies serving deaf or hard of hearing individuals in the areas affected by
Hurricane Katrina are reporting that their phone lines and offices are shut down
for the time being. Coverage for pagers may be weak at times due to loss of
network capabilities. As a result, people wanting to find information on
recovery and rescue efforts in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina are
encouraged in Louisiana or displaced westward in Texas to contact CSD of
Oklahoma during regular business hours at:
www.c-s-d.org (click on locations,
then Oklahoma)
(866) 845-7445 Voice/TTY (Toll Free)
(918) 835-7445 Voice/TTY
(918) 835-6459 FAX
csdoklahoma@c-s-d.org
We have people standing by at the CEPIN regional center, which is being
facilitated by CSD of Oklahoma Division Director Glenna Cooper," said Dr.
Benjamin J. Soukup, CSD CEO. "We recognize that people who are deaf or hard of
hearing are often overlooked in disaster recovery and rescue efforts, and we are
working hard to ensure that this does not happen with Hurricane Katrina. CSD of
Oklahoma is working closely with the local Red Cross and other appropriate
organizations, and they will be able to provide assistance."
"In addition to the victims, our office is also providing support and resources
to the responders and volunteers to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing
refugees are getting much-needed assistance," added Soukup.
For those wanting information in other states affected by Katrina such as
Florida, Alabama or Mississippi, and displaced refugees in the Mid-Atlantic
area, contact Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Persons (NVRC).
"We are heartbroken seeing all the devastation that Katrina has brought upon
people in the Gulf States, especially those who are deaf, hard of hearing,
deaf-blind and late-deafened," said Cheryl Heppner, Executive Director of NVRC.
Heppner added, "As part of CEPIN, we are eager to work with organizations and
agencies to ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing get the services
they need, especially hearing aids or other devices vital to effective
communication. At a time when their lives are turned upside down, we hope the
last thing worry about is how they will be able to communicate with others."
NVRC may be contacted during regular business hours at:
www.nvrc.org
(703) 352-9056 TTY
(703) 352-9055 Voice
(703) 352-9058 FAX
info@nvrc.org
Volunteers who have experience in working with deaf and hard of hearing
people and have training in First Aid, CPR, CERT, and other rescue efforts
should contact one of the two regional centers to offer their services. The
CEPIN website also has a list of statewide resources available at
www.tdi-online.org/tdi/emergencypreparedness/cepin.htm for the areas affected by
the hurricane.
If you need assistance in recovering from the disaster, contact the nearest
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
www.fema.gov
1-800-462-7585 TTY
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Voice
For a list of organizations to donate money to:
www.fema.gov/press/2005/katrinadonations.shtm
(Please note that FEMA and other organizations are asking for monetary
donations, not donations in the form of food, clothes or other goods).
If you need food, clothing, shelter or medicine, contact the American Red
Cross:
www.redcross.org
If you need to find your family members, go to the American Red Cross
FamilyLinks website at:
www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina
If you receive social security benefits, Social Security Administration is
working to ensure that individuals continue to receive their retirement or
disability checks. More information is at:
www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency/
1-800-325-0778 TTY
1-800-772-1213 Voice
Its critical that we have this information on hand for victims, and that
people are aware of these resources, said Jim House, CEPIN Project National
Coordinator. The CEPIN Project will continue to be very supportive, and to
monitor the recovery activities and provide assistance as needed. CEPIN will be
adding information to its website and sending out information as news develops,
and we encourage people to check our website for updates.
About the CEPIN Project: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded TDI
nearly $1.5 million for the two-year CEPIN Project, which focuses on developing
model community education programs for deaf and hard of hearing consumers about
emergency preparedness. For more information about the CEPIN Project, please
visit
www.tdi-online.org/tdi/emergencypreparedness/cepin.htm.
About TDI: TDI is a non-profit advocacy organization that promotes equal
access to telecommunications and media for individuals who are deaf, late
deafened, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind. Since 1968, TDI has successfully
advocated for federal legislation such as the Telecommunications Act of 1996,
the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Television Decoder Circuitry Act,
both of 1990, as well as other legislation and policies mandating greater access
to wireless technology, captioning as well as other telecommunication and media
technologies. Since its inception, TDI has been promoting access to 9-1-1
centers and other public safety answering points, and is now working to ensure
full access to information during natural or manmade disasters and other types
of emergencies. TDI publishes annually, a National Directory & Resource Guide,
commonly known as The Blue Book, a popular resource book for people with hearing
loss, as well as the GA-SK quarterly news magazine. For more information about
TDI, visit www.tdi-online.org.
# # #
For more information about the CEPIN Project at TDI, contact:
Jim House
National CEPIN Coordinator
Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network TDI 8630 Fenton Street,
Suite 604 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3822
jimhouse@tdi-online.org
www.tdi-online.org/tdi/resources.emergency.asp
TTY or VP: 301-589-3006
AIM: JimHouseCEPIN
Fax: 301-589-3797
Voice: 301-589-3786
Step in with CEPIN - Your life may depend on it.
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