|
|
|
|
Hearing Tornadoes
Mon Sep 08, 2003
Listen in RealAudio 
Some people say a tornado sounds like a freight train. Or a million bumblebees. But to some,
it sounds like nothing at all. This may soon change. Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton for The Weather
Notebook.
About 10 percent of Americans have some degree of hearing loss. For these folks, severe
weather is especially scary.
Many of them can't listen to the radio or hear tornado sirens. TV and the Internet do help,
but a computer can't tap you on the shoulder. On television, warnings often scroll across the
bottom of the screen, but these can be obscured by the captioning system used by most
hearing-impaired people. Reading lips can also be a challenge when a fast-talking
weathercaster goes into overdrive. During a tornado in Oklahoma, one deaf man saw a warning
on TV, but couldn't make out what was being said. He finally recognized the word "closet,"
and that prompted him to take shelter.
People with hearing difficulties now have a much better way to get weather warnings. It's a
special type of NOAA Weather Radio. Millions of people already rely on this system, which
gives a tone alert when severe weather approaches. Now, a special version of this radio has a
multiple warning system, including a strobe light, a text display, and a bed vibrator that
shakes people awake. Vibrating pagers are another way for the hearing-impaired to keep up
with the latest warnings. These pagers can be expensive, so some cities and companies are
trying to lower the cost for those who have few other ways to stay safe when the weather turns
wicked.
Bob Henson sent us today's story. The Weather Notebook is produced by the Mount Washington
Observatory. We are funded by Subaru of America, and The National Science Foundation. Thanks
to our Marketing Manager, Melody Nester.
|
|
