Rome Georgia - Sign Language interpreters for the Deaf regularly work in schools, businesses, and even hospitals, but interpreters going into a disaster area with first responders is unheard of. That is, it was until last weekend when GEMINI Interpreter Strike Team Alpha was deployed to the city of Adairsville, GA. About GEMINI
GEMINI Founder and State Director, John McDonald who is especially tr
ained in first-aid, CPR, and Emergency Management in addition to being a Nationally Certified Interpreter for the Deaf was asked to help the City of Adairsville after a tornado. The occasion is truly historic as it marks the first time a team of Sign Language Interpreters have ever been deployed in the field with first responders following a disaster. Tornado in Adairsville Jan. 2013
Experiencing a natural disaster can be one of the most traumatic times in a person's life. The EF-3 tornado that tore through Adairsville last week destroyed homes and businesses, tossed cars from the highway, and toppled hundreds of trees as if they had been toothpicks. Hundreds of families across several counties have been displaced and taken refuge in temporary shelters. It is normal for people not directly impacted by a disaster to imagine what they themselves would do in a similar situation. Just imagine how much harder it would be to survive a disaster without being able to hear or speak. That is exactly what happened to one deaf woman last week. Viola Hall lives 30 feet away from the late Anthony Raines, who died in last week's tornado when a tree fell on his home. Like many families in her neighborhood, she and her two young children were evacuated out of the immediate area where the tornado touched down. They spent a few nights in a shelter, and then returned to their home when the electricity was restored. In this respect, Viola's experience has been the same as most of her neighbors. The only difference is that Viola is deaf. The first 72 hours following a disaster are the most difficult for any family. Finding safe shelter, dry clothes, food and water are critical, but even in a small town like Adairsville, no one has to face these challenges alone. Amid the tragedy and chaos they cause, disasters have a way of breaking-down social barriers. In times of trouble, things like where someone goes to church, the color of their skin, their accent, the brand of their clothes, the size of their bank account, or the kind of car they drive tend to lose their meaning; people help one another indiscriminately. Viola, however, had only limited ways to communicate with first responders, workers at the shelter, even other storm victims and relief workers. Like so many other things a hearing person takes for granted, her access to the services provided others, communication with friends and family members, even the comfort and camaraderie enjoyed by others, was impaired. Historic First Deployment a Success
The morning of February 2nd a meeting was held with relief work leaders, first responders, and shelter supervisors at the Incident Command Center in Adairsville City Hall. The tasks for the entire command staff were discussed and prioritized. Priority number one was locating Viola and her family. GEMINI Strike Team Alpha had been engaged in finding Ms. Hall less than 24 hours when they caught their first major break: a report that she had moved back into her home in the disaster area. Adairesville Police Department escorted GEMINI directly into the center of the disaster area to Ms. Upon arrival, Ms. Hall came out of her home to greet them. A conversation between Ms. Hall and first responders was long overdue, but could now take place thanks to these interpreters. Finally able to communicate with someone, Ms. Hall frantically told her story of what she had seen the day of the tornado. Through the interpreters she was able to express the multitude of emotions she had been carrying inside for the first time. Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Not one to rest on his laurels when there is work to be done, John McDonald immediately returned to the Adairsville Church of God to coordinate securing a space heater for Ms. Even with the tarps in place to keep out the rain, the cold of the winter nights was still a huge problem. Finding no one had donated a space heater, he went out, purchased one himself, and then delivered it to Ms. Hall that day. The funeral for Mr. Raines was held on Monday, February 4th, 2013. Aaron Shoemaker of GEMINI Strike Team Alpha interpreted for Ms. Hall once again. "Ordinarily we would pass this kind of thing on to the regular agencies to provide interpreting services, since this isn't technically an emergency management scenario " Mr. Shoemaker said of interpreting the funeral, "but circumstances like these are anything but ordinary, and I'm not about to sit this one out on a technicality when there's someone who needs my help." Like so many others affected by the late January storm, the future is uncertain for Ms. Hall and her family. Their home has since been deemed unlivable, and the Red Cross has committed to provide services to house them temporarily. Exactly what will happen in the future is anyone's guess, but thanks to the members of GEMINI Strike Team Alpha, one thing is certain: she won't fall through the cracks or be lost in the system. She now has access to the services she and her family need, and that at least puts her on equal footing with her neighbors. GEMINI is a strategic alliance partner with Noah's Ark & Company (501c3).
