Climate-related hazards: what challenges do they pose for deaf and hearing-impaired people?

To better understand this issue, CERAC interviewed representative organisations from Belgium’s French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities, namely the Fédération Francophone des Sourds de Belgique (FFSB) and Doof Vlaanderen.

According to FFSB and Doof Vlaanderen, some of the information disseminated during a disaster still relies heavily on verbal communication: radio, sirens, loudspeakers, press conferences or instructions from the rescue services.

Doof Vlaanderen notes that deaf and hearing-impaired people often receive auditory information from a third party or through social media. As a result, many people are unwittingly dependent on others to be informed about a disaster and to understand the instructions issued.

This dependence can lead to a delay in accessing information. It is often more pronounced among older or isolated people, who sometimes have more limited access to digital tools, such as the internet or social media. Receiving the same information, at the same time and with the same level of accuracy as the rest of the population is essential for deaf and hearing-impaired people to make decisions autonomously.

Both organisations also point out that a written message is not always enough. Indeed, deaf and hearing-impaired people do not form a homogeneous group, and their needs differ. They therefore emphasise the importance of multimodal communication, combining several formats: text, visuals, subtitles, sign language, etc.

Both organisations highlight the limitations of systems that rely primarily on sound. An evacuation announced over a loudspeaker or instructions given verbally may not be heard by some deaf or hearing-impaired people.

Filip Verstraete, staff member at Doof Vlaanderen, points out: “As regards rescue services, you have the 112 BE app, which allows you to send a message through a chat function. However, written communication takes time and requires a good command of the written language. This can be difficult in an emergency situation. Victims are often stressed or in shock.”

Then Vanessa Picron, communications officer at FFSB: “Existing tools, such as the 112 BE app, BE-Alert and the 1722 e-service, represent steps forward. But our tests carried out with the emergency department of Namur’s hospital in 2025 also highlighted technical limitations that can become critical in an emergency. If the connection is already causing problems under normal circumstances, what would happen in the event of a disaster disrupting the networks? “

Both organisations believe that accessibility must be integrated systematically, as early as the preparation phase of the crisis communication. It is also essential to make use of subtitles, sign language, visual aids and clear written messages in straightforward, understandable language.

FFSB emphasises the importance of maintaining accessibility. It calls for information to remain accessible throughout the crisis and beyond, from preventive measures and alerts to evacuation, reception of people affected, care and post-crisis procedures.

FFSB also points out that the July 2021 floods in Wallonia highlighted the importance of prompt and accessible communication when the situation is changing rapidly. The organisation further underlines that, in the event of a disaster affecting an entire region, it can be risky to rely only on family and friends to pass on information, as relatives may themselves be caught up in the emergency.

Deaf and hearing-impaired people are no more at risk from climate hazards than anyone else. However, when information, alert or rescue systems are not fully accessible, additional barriers may arise. Contributions from FFSB and Doof Vlaanderen show that an accessible and early planned communication is a key element in managing risks and in building up the resilience of all citizens faced with extreme climate events. Accessibility in a crisis situation is not a matter of convenience or a secondary adaptation: it is directly part of public safety.