[P18] From Alert to Action: Earthquake Early Warning and Deaf Communities
| Affiliation | Gallaudet University |
|---|---|
| Author | 高山 亨太 Audrey Cooper オードリー・クーパー |
| Co-Author | オードリー・クーパー（ギャローデット大学） ミシェル・クック（マサチューセッツ大学アマースト校） ダニエレ・スーミー（アメリカ国立科学財団） サラ・マックブライド（アメリカ地質調査所） |
Keywords
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- Earthquake Early Warning
- Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction
Outline
Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems provide valuable seconds to take protective actions such as ""drop,"" ""cover,"" and ""hold on"" before shaking begins. However, Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH+) individuals face limited access to earthquake information, warning systems, training, and participation in disaster decision-making processes. Although international standards mandate accessible emergency alerts for persons with disabilities, there is a lack of research evaluating the effectiveness of EEW systems for DHH+ communities (Cooper et al., 2024). DHH+ individuals often fail to receive proper alerts and disaster information, making them more vulnerable to severe impacts. Additionally, inadequate access to earthquake drills and preparedness resources leads to a lack of contextual knowledge needed for appropriate action during emergencies (Cooper et al., 2024). For example, during the Great East Japan Earthquake, the mortality rate of DHH+ individuals was found to be twice as high as that of hearing individuals (Takayama, 2017). This disparity stems from systemic linguistic inequities in schools, workplaces, and homes, which hinder DHH communities’ access to critical disaster information. Improving EEW systems by incorporating the languages and cultural perspectives of DHH individuals can foster active participation from DHH+ communities and enhance disaster preparedness initiatives (Craig et al., 2022). This poster presentation provides an overview of recent research, highlights EEW and disaster preparedness efforts in DHH+ communities, and shares new findings on DHH+ experiences with alert systems.引用文献 / ReferenceCooper, A.C., Cooke, M.L., Takayama, K., Sumy, D.F., & McBridge, S. (2024). From alert to action: earthquake early warning and deaf communities. Nat Hazards, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-024-06719-6 Craig, L., Cooper, A., Takayama, K., & Klein, H. (2022). Deaf community and DiDRR supporting a Twin-Track approach. Review of Disability Studies, 18(3), 1-24Takayama, K. (2017). Disaster Relief and Crisis Intervention with Deaf communities: Crisis Mobilization and Response to Natural Disasters in Japan. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 26(3-4), 247-260."
