Disasters don’t wait for accessibility. They strike suddenly, with or without warning, tearing through communities by wind, water, and fire. But long before the storm hits, and long after it settles, another crisis is already in motion: inaccessibility.
For many Deaf and hard of hearing people, the stress of the disaster itself is only part of the challenge. Accessing emergency support in American Sign Language (ASL) has historically been frustrating, delayed, or entirely unavailable.
When the LA wildfire burned parts of Southern California, or when Hurricane Milton struck the Gulf region, they didn’t just destroy power lines and flood streets, they severed critical lines of communication, making it difficult for Deaf and hard of hearing people to reach out for help or access information.
That’s where ASL Now’s Disaster Helpline made a powerful difference.
Through point-to-point direct video calling in ASL, Deaf people were able to connect immediately with trained Deaf operators to receive critical updates, information, and resources. No interpreter, no delay, just direct access to help in their native language.
When Hurricane Milton swept through, it left a trail of destruction behind. One caller shared how they found out about the ASL Now Disaster Helpline and decided to give it a try:
Testimony #1: I liked being able to speak with the rep in ASL. Easy to talk to and to understand each other. I asked for the Red Cross number and got it. Do you do this all over the world?”
That question, “Do you do this all over the world?”, reflects just how rare and valuable this kind of direct sign language access still is. It’s a reminder of how much further we have to go in making disaster support truly equal.
Testimony #2: “I felt relief when the rep was signing in ASL. I did not expect it when I called. They helped me to fill out the insurance claim I needed quickly!”
The ability to communicate in your native language during a crisis can mean the difference between getting help now or waiting days for someone else to interpret your needs. That sense of relief? It matters.
Testimony #3: “Someone told me about this service. I called to check it out. I also got the resources I needed when my roof was damaged in the hurricane.”
In times like these, information is critical, but for Deaf people, it's not just about getting information, it’s about understanding it clearly and directly. ASL Now provided just that, helping this caller get assistance without delay.
These experiences are a powerful reminder of why accessible emergency services aren’t just a luxury, they’re essential.
As we push for systems like Next Generation 911 (NG911) that support direct video communication, we can look to ASL Now’s Disaster Helpline as a real-world example of what fair and equal emergency access should look like.
The ASL Now Disaster Helpline isn’t just a response service, it’s a blueprint for fair and equal access in moments that matter most. During COVID, Hurricane Milton, the LA Wildfires, and beyond, it showed us what’s possible when Deaf people receive direct, native-language support: outcomes improve, stress decreases, and lives are changed.
As climate disasters grow more frequent and urgent, accessibility must be built into every emergency response system, not bolted on later. The future of public safety depends on it.
Let’s ensure no one is left out when it matters most.
