(Sept. 18, 2012) - With the help of experienced sign-language interpreters from Alabama's Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), the National Weather Service Huntsville, Alabama, forecast office held the state's first SKYWARN® Storm Spotter Training class for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing on September 13, 2012.

Nearly two dozen attendees turned out for the class, conducted by NWS Huntsville Meteorologist Jennifer Schuller at the ADRS office in Huntsville.

"People may not realize how difficult it can be for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to receive timely watch and warning information," said Chris Darden, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS Huntsville forecast office. "Yet they are one of the most at-risk groups, since they obviously cannot hear weather coming in advance, even if it is a significant tornado event."

According to a study by the Gallaudet Research Institute in Washington, D.C., approximately four of every 1,000 people in the United States are functionally deaf, while about 14 percent of the nation's entire population experiences some level of hearing impairment.

As part of the class, each attendee received a NOAA Weather Radio with an external strobe light attachment. A number of attendees mentioned that they have a weather radio with the attachment in every room of their house so they will not miss an alert.

Other attendees shared that they heavily rely on social media and cell phone applications to stay informed about the weather in their area.

The Storm Spotter Training Course presented earlier this month covered thunderstorm development, storm structure, cloud formations, and severe weather safety precautions specifically designed for those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

As part of the class, Jennifer urged the use of online reporting methods (via the NWS website and through social media outlets) to send vital information to the local NWS office during severe weather events.

Special contact cards were created for this audience that included easily accessible weather, safety and severe weather reporting information.

The NWS Huntsville office is now the second NWS Southern Region forecast office to reach out to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community with Storm Spotter Training.

In February, the NWS forecast office in Nashville, Tennessee, teamed up with the local Red Cross and "Bridges" (a local hearing support organization in Nashville) to provide the training.

The NWS Huntsville office extends thank you to the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) for allowing them to host the event on-site, as well as the NWS Nashville office for collaboration in the design of the Storm Spotter Training class presentation.

---