Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network

| 07.03.2007 | 08:21:277126 |

July 3 '07 The Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network is an organization which works to extend emergency preparedness best practices to the deaf and blind community in the U.S. Because of the special nature of the deaf and blind community, it is not always possible for local government officials to warn residents properly of an impending or unfolding disaster.

In Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, deaf couple Elizabeth and Clyde Heurtin did not know that the storm was approaching until their son contacted them. The Heurtins lived in St. Bernard Parish and evacuated to Houston before the storm hit. "We really couldn't understand what was going on," Mrs. Heurtin told The Advocate. "If I had really known how large it was, we could have had more time to prepare."

According to their website, the CEPIN project "aims to broaden the scope of awareness and preparedness between emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing consumers prior to the occurrence of natural and man-made disaters. By introducing the two audiences to each other, CEPIN encourages networking and communication between two groups who frequently encounter communication breakdowns."