Check this out! A Committee Hearing to talk about the fact that those with hearing loss won't hear the emergency alerts from our Government.

House to Hold Hearing on Emergency Alerting
HLAA Set to Testify Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Bethesda, Maryland - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, will hold a hearing titled "This is NOT a Test: Will the Nation's Emergency Alert System Deliver the President's Message to the Public?" The hearing will focus on the modernization of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

The Committee has invited Lise Hamlin, director of public policy and state development, Hearing Loss Association of America, to be a witness and give testimony about what is happening to people with hearing loss who attempt to get the information they need during an emergency. Hamlin is expected to testify that people with hearing loss do not get emergency information in a way that is accessible to them. When an emergency message is delivered verbally, often people with hearing loss do not receive the information visually. The emergency alert system needs to take better advantage of technology that is accessible to people with disabilities to bring them the emergency information they need.

Testimony will also be given by: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), a representative of Public Television Stations, as well as people from the hearing loss, English as a second language, and the emergency management communities.

These hearings will be streamed live with captions at the House Committee’s website at transportation.house.gov.


About the Hearing Loss Association of America
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, Walk4Hearing, and more. Information can be found at www.hearingloss.org. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20184. Phone: 301.657.2248. HLAA has chapters and state organizations across the country.