Joel visits two Deaf families in Austin, who both had damaged homes from a flash flood on Halloween night. Check out their unbelievable stories, exciting footage from the roof during the flood, and find out how you can help.  (captioned)

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  • Ok first of all i want to say sorry to see something like this happened to those two families. second of all, why are you showing this video if you request help without any address or vp phone number to help out? how do we help what do they need? those important information are left out of the video…. so whats the today update news on them?

  • Joel’s comment at the end of the video has brought something to mind. You all know those annoying requirements of those VP companies requiring someone coming to your home to install and verify the IP, address, etc? Maybe they should all agree on sending out address posts of those deaf people who are in the affected area to proper authorities so the police, EMS, emergency responders could go to those addresses and provide proper help to deaf people rather than foolishly handing them out papers to call, which is really useless. Those VP companies always require updated addresses on their files so I assume that it is a real good reliable source for the emergency responders can use to seek out and provide help to the deaf people in their communities. FEMA should set up a special division to focus on those types of people that need different methods of contact or kinds of service. Just a thought..

  • They can come and stay with us if yall did not help them. please contact me by text @ 325-242-1879. We live close to the flood area.

  • Hi Joel .. Please sent those deaf families my pray for these families … Any help please let me know thanks… Pray from deaf Arizona. Chasity Culp

  • I FEEL SAD HOW I FEEL BEC I HAD THOUGH SANDY HURRICANE FEW DEAF LOST EVERYTHING AND TWO DEAF FAMILIES ALREADY LOST THIER HOME.. HONEST IN MY HOMETOWN STILL ISNT FINISH SINCE ONE YEAR SANDY HURRICANE IT IS IN STATEN ISLAND , NEW YORK… I AM SORRY THEY, LOST EVERTHING I SEE THIS VIDEO. GLAD FMAILY IS OKAY.. I AM SORRY THEY LOST EVERYTHING.. LUCK THEY STILL HAVE A HOUSE AND I AM SURPISED THEY HELPED THEM SO FAST TO CLEANING UP … IN MY HOMETOWN STILL NOT 100 PERCENT FINISH TO CLEANING UP , TOO MANY FAMILIES HAVE NO PLACE TO LIVE AS LOST THIER HOME DAMAGES… EVER MY HOME ROOF ISNT HAVE BEEN REPAIR BEC DUE WAITING LISTING…SEND MY PRAYING TO THESE DEAF FAMILIES… MAKE SURE THEY ASK FEMA TO GET AN INTEREPTER….GOD BLESS THEM … PLS KEEP IN FAITH WITH FAMILY…..

  • Wow I can’t believe that flash flood deaf community where live experiences bad situation make me bump hair poor deaf people

  • Hi Joel, I feel for them for being in a state of shock when it comes to a real life disaster. I totally agree with you that having a communication access is an important to everyone, including deaf and non-verbal speaking people. One main thing that if a FEMA notices that the deaf owner needs an interpreter, it should be called immediately, not to wait for a day or more. My family and I had a disaster experience by having a house of a fire. When I came home with my two sons from running errands to get ready before returning to work/school, I found there were fire trucks, polices, and ambulances were in a front of our home. Of course, I was in a state of shock to cry until much later. When the fireman discovered I was deaf, they didn’t think about calling the professional interpreter right away. We had to wait for two days to get interpreters to go through our personal lives. My point is that all community services (firemen, policemen, ambulance drivers,and others) SHOULD get training in case of an emergency.

  • So I think since the L.A. shooting and seeing 2 sad stories about deaf people being left out…Really Sad!! I am CODA and I have asked several people and how can I get VP??? I really would like one so I can communicate with my Father and he has 2 other brothers that are deaf. We really need to remember there are a lot of people with disabilities and have no help when a catastrophe happens. Remember there are people of all kind and we need to remember that. They always feel left out when there is no one to help. Please lets support this cause…It’s worth it!!!

  • This is really, really sad. I lift them up in prayers.I would like to donate please. WHere and how do I donate?

  • How they can accessible? Use their mobile have provided ip relay or vrs and will benefits contact their local emergency in case u needed. Glad whoever Deaf people are alright and hope this works to through fema and others. My hearts goes out for all Deaf Community who lost their home by hurricane or flood or earthquake etc. Gov’t must recognized Deaf Community needs their accessible contact emergency immediately. Don’t let anyone who left you out!

  • I’m a certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and I also represent NJAD as Deaf & H/H Community Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. I feel for both deaf families in Austin. As a Hurricane Sandy survivor last year, I know what both families are going thru. Didn’t get an interpreter sooner. My experience between being survived & as my role for this state of NJ was extremely difficult to deal with. I depended on my cell phone to contact my deaf family, friends & also my landlord. It went dead within hours after fully charged so I used my Red Cross radio that has connection for cell phone charger which was a huge help. It’s also my understanding that FEMA doesn’t do anything unless President of US signs the emergency declaration. My son & his fiance lost their home to North’East storm in 2009 and there was no emergency declaration from White House. They just lost almost everything. It’s extremely hard for everybody, I know. At least, I’m glad that Red Cross helped in some ways down there. Right now, I’m working so hard to improve with communication system for deaf & H/H survivors such like accessible contact. Hopefully, FCC & US Homeland Security will announce the new 911 system on text!! I’m also going to work w/ EMI (Emergency Management Interpreter) for this state so hopefully, we’ll be on a “go” for it very soon. Also as matter of fact, both FCC & FEMA are well aware of this sitution and I certainly hope they can improve for better accessible. I’m praying for both deaf families down there in Austin. Take one day at a time.

  • When was last time the FEMA actually did help people?

    Experiencing numerous of disaster and I learn that government is very poor at emergency response. What people did to get ahead was becoming self-reliant and they build the community around them to support each other.

    The commenter above who is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a great way we the deaf people and other people can do to receive training. Then, we together as a community can help each other get ourselves out of disaster.

    I do hope agencies like FEMA and others becoming better. But, I am not betting on that it will happen soon. What we can do is to do what Annmarie who is being proactive and building a solution.

  • this video was very touchy to my heart. I was tearing my eyes when I watched this video.

    I can’t imagine how could the Federal Emergency Management need to establish each of residents that we are Deaf. They could help us immediately than wait too long.

    Thank You Annmaire… Ricky Pope is working on it too in State of California. Hopefully, FCC and EMI will be improve in their communication with advance in the technology.

  • Hi I’m from Virginia and I’m totally deaf . I been seeing what happen at show video who they are deafness and floods in Austin , Texas . It make me hurt and unexpected ….. Wow!!!!

  • No fun what deaf guest to explain what happen to damage the house , I won’t forget twice time flood over my ex home in Hines , West Virginia. But myself fine and house no problem. I do understand deaf people ‘s feeling.

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