Kentucky plans to give weather alert radios to its hard-of-hearing residents at no cost to them in what the state’s governor said Thursday was a critical step to ensure that all residents get immediate access to potentially lifesaving emergency information ahead of severe storms.fb777

The initiative, which will begin with the initial distribution of 700 specialized radios equipped with pillow shaker and strobe light attachments, was announced by Gov. Andy Beshear as the state braced for the remnants of Hurricane Helene on Friday evening.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing are especially vulnerable to missing emergency alerts when they are asleep, officials said.

“Regardless of how vigilant deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are in monitoring weather alerts, their vulnerability increases the moment they fall asleep because they are unable to hear alarms, sirens and other critical auditory warnings,” Anita Dowd, the executive director of the state’s Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, said in a news release.

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The radios also feature light-up text displays showing what type of weather alert is being issued. They receive transmissions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s radio network, which broadcasts forecasts, warnings and other alerts 24 hours a day.

Governor Beshear, a Democrat, named the initiative “Moore Safe Nights,” after a late state official, Virginia Moore, who served as the sign language interpreter during the governor’s daily coronavirus news conferences and other state crises.

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