STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Deaf Staten Island victim of Hurricane Sandy says pleas go unheeded. When police with megaphones rolled through Carol Lazorisak’s Oakwood Beach neighborhood in the hours before the hurricane thrust ashore, she did not hear their announcement about evacuation help.
In the days after the surge ripped her Tarlton Street home off its foundation, filled it with water to a depth of 5 feet and tossed her shed nearly a block away, she joined the thousands of other dazed victims at Miller Field in New Dorp, seeking some answers and a measure of comfort.
But for Ms. Lazorisak, who has been Deaf since birth, walking through the bustling relief center was like being in a movie on silent. There were no signs providing information for the Deaf or directing people to translation services. She left feeling more isolated than ever.
“I am extremely frustrated because of the lack of communication, the lack of help, the lack of information. I was left lost and in the dark for the first two weeks after Sandy destroyed my home,” said Ms. Lazorisak, as her friend Marybeth Imsho translated from American Sign Language a service she has provided during virtually every face-to-face meeting with FEMA or city agencies, and at the borough president’s town hall meeting last month where no interpreter was provided for nearly a dozen Deaf audience members. “My home is going to be demolished by the city in the next week and I need information.” Read more: http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2012/12/deaf_staten_island_victim_of_h.html
Carol Lazorisak's Oakwood Beach home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Adding to her frustration is the fact that adequate interpreter services from FEMA, the city and at public meetings relating to the disaster have not been made available, says Ms. Lazorisak, who has been Deaf since birth. Source: silive.com
NEW YORK (CNN) - Fans want Bloomberg's Sandy signer' Lydia Callis back. When New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg appeared at a news conference Wednesday without Lydia Callis at his side, fans of the sign language interpreter immediately expressed their disappointment via Twitter.
"Wait, where is Lydia Callis???? (aka our favorite sign language interpreter)" @abbygardner tweeted.
"Watching Bloomberg's latest briefing. So sad Lydia Callis is not the sign language interpreter #Sandy" tweeted @kyledoyle.
"Damn they change the #signlanguagelady ... WE WANT LYDIA CALLIS BACK !!!!" @JoeyStugotz6 posted.
LOS ANGELES - Chelesa Lately TV show under fire for mocks sign language.
Late-night host Chelsea Handler (of the Chelsea Lately Show, on E! Network) has found herself in the center of controversy, due to this skit (air date: Oct 30, 2012) which many members of the ASL-users community say mocks and makes fun of the language they use to communicate: ASL (American Sign Language). In the skit, a member of the cast mocks Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's ASL Interpreter Lydia Callis, who translated for the Mayor's Hurricane Sandy press conferences, as seen on YouTube video.
And what some with hearing (like Chelsea) would consider as "over-exaggerated" facial expressions and body movements are used for a good reason, not to "editorialize" or to be "passionate", but to communicate linguistic elements that those with hearing convey by way of vocal inflection, pitch, rhythm, pace, etc, and take for granted.
(Also check out the comments section below the article, as they provide further information which is important to understand the issue.)
E! Entertainment Television corporate lawyers probably will feel compelled to file a DMCA take-down notice with YouTube (as is their right, as they own the copyright), but I WILL file a DMCA counter-notice, demanding they file suit in Federal Court for copyright infringement. If they need to have a Judge lecture them on the basics of the principle of "fair use" exceptions allowed under U.S. Federal Copyright law, then they can be my guest.
On the other hand, I'm willing to consider relinquishing my right to this "fair use" (public commentary) if the "Chelsea Lately Show" offers a public apology for whatever insult and harm they have caused, perhaps with a statement educating their viewers as to why ASL interpreters must use non-gestural components as a part of ASL, to be broadcast on the Chelsey Lately show in an opening monologue, with a message that is deemed acceptable by representatives of the Deaf community (eg Deaf Nation).
Vlog with closed captioned, who not understand in ASL. Discussion of the reasons Lydia Callis (interpreter for Mayor Bloomberg during Hurricane Sandy) has become so "famous" and the language attitudes behind this. A comparison to language attitudes surrounding Chinese is made.
(Sorry my signing isn't the best... CODA...) But here's what I'd like to say to Chelsea Handler if I could! PS- I added CC for those who can't understand.
Discussing my thoughts on issues surrounding TV Show - Chelesa Lately's skit on Hurricane Sandy's Breakout Star: Lydia Callis, NY Mayor Bloomberg's Sign Language Interpreter. Making fun of American Sign Language (ASL) in national spotlight is definitely lame and politically-incorrect despite unexpected and pricesless promotion of our beloved and respectful language recently. An interpreter's main role is to convey information rather than become a celebrity for the ignorant. Deaf people are aware of such mainstream fasincation with interpreters and our "beautiful" language. So I bring up the question that is OK to laugh at or laugh with and basically shrug this off? I think this whole publicity stunt is a turkey. I forgot to mention in my vlog: What if this was a terrorist attack rather than a weather crisis in NYC? OK to laugh at or with Lydia's national exposure? I think not.
Lydia Callis, the interpreter for Mayor Bloomberg during Hurricane Sandy, became famous on internet overnight because of her facial expressions. A number of Deaf people have expressed their objection against those who mock the interpreter and American Sign Language, especially the comedian Chelsea Handler. How should we, as Deaf individuals, response to such mockery of our culture and language?
I do have to use my voice so the hearing people can watch this too. I hope they understand too, because that was just uncalled for. I just learned that Saturday Night Live just made fun of us. It's spreading like wildfire!
While most of the comments about Lydia online have been positive, they’re positive in an ironic and subtly mocking sort of way. The title of the Tumblr is “Lydia Callis’ face for NYC mayor” not her whole body, just her face, as seen on YouTube with closed captioned:
Callis became an overnight celebrity this week for her animated facial expressions as she interpreted ASL for Michael R. Bloomberg during his many press conferences regarding Hurricane Sandy . But as journalist Lilit Marcus wrote over at the Atlantic, much of the coverage of Callis was patronizing to ASL speakers.
Marcus is the child of two hearing impaired parents and was dismayed, if not entirely surprised, that the hearing world seemed to think Callis was there to provide goofy entertainment.
Yes, Lydia Callis’ facial expressions and large, emphatic signs are a bit unusual among interpreters, but they’re not incorrect. Most interpreters have a difference between the way that they sign for large groups and the way that they sign for small ones. Callis’ sign style reminds me more of the way that interpreters translate at Broadway shows or at college graduations, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or that she’s doing it for attention...Read more: http://www.blackbookmag.com/snl-opening-skit-puts-sign-language-interpreter-front-center-1.54488
NEW YORK CITY (ABC News) - Here's the videos with closed captions of Hurricane Sandy aftermath. Inside the eerily still metropolis the day after Frankenstorm.
It blasted the ocean itself over dunes, seawalls and berms and into downtowns, tunnels and subways. It killed dozens of people, destroyed famed landmarks and amusement parks, pushed houses off their foundations and toppled trees. It virtually shut down New York City, the nation's largest city, with major airports, highways, and bridges and tunnels in and out of Manhattan shut down, just as they were after 9/11.
For millions of people in New York City and elsewhere, the lights remain out, communications remain down and floodwaters, downed trees and power lines still make roads impassable.
Superstorm Sandy: Death Toll Up to 50, but Some Steps Toward Recovery.
However, some of the hardest-hit areas on the East Coast were beginning to take the first steps towards recovery. For instance, some New York bridges, tunnels, highways and airports reopened or were slated to be reopened by Wednesday morning.
Meet Lydia Callis, the mayor's sign language interpretor who became the city's newest hearthrob. Stealing the show with her passionate facial expressions and signs.
Clearly there is nothing funny about mass casualties and a region under water. But Lydia Callis has at least given people something to smile about in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
The sign language interpreter for Mayor Michael Bloomberg has gone viral. Mayor Bloomberg addresses the public while his signer feels the beat of the hurricane mane! as seen on YouTube.
The stories of devastation and destruction on the local news lately have not provided much in the way of relief unless, that is, you happened to catch sight of a sign language interpreter named Lydia Callis.
She has inspired a tribute Tumblr page: Lydia Callis’s Facial Expressions, which has compiled images of her expressions as she signs. In one photo, Mr. Bloomberg looks on from behind, seemingly fixated on her hands.
WASHINGTON - Hurricane Sandy Preparedness Press Conference - US President Barack Obama: 'This is a Serious and Big Storm'.
Much of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States is braced for the onslaught of wind, rain, high tides and even snow Hurricane Sandy is forecast to deliver on Monday and Tuesday.
The massive storm 'Frankenstorm' effects already were being felt Sunday night along the Atlantic beaches in North Carolina and Virginia, and rain bands extended far inland. As I write this, it is raining in the nation’s capital and the winds have picked up.
Here is a White House transcript of their remarks:
THE PRESIDENT: Well, good afternoon, everybody. Obviously, all of us across the country are concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy. This is a serious and big storm. And my first message is to all the people across the Eastern seaboard, Mid-Atlantic, going north, that you need to take this very seriously and follow the instructions of your state and local officials, because they are going to be providing you with the best advice in terms of how to deal with this storm over the coming days.
We just had an excellent meeting with the FEMA team here, the various agencies that are in charge, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and others that are going to need to respond very quickly.
Under Craig Fugate’s leadership here at FEMA we’ve had a chance to talk to the regional officials as well. And I just had a phone call with the governors of the potentially impacted states, as well as some of the major cities in the region.
At this stage, everybody is confident that the staging process, the prepositioning of resources, commodities, equipment that are going to be needed to respond to this storm are in place. But as Craig has emphasized, this hasn’t hit landfall yet, so we don’t yet know where it’s going to hit, where we’re going to see the biggest impacts. And that’s exactly why it’s so important for us to respond big and respond fast as local information starts coming in.
I want to thank all the members of the team for the outstanding work that they’re doing. But the other thing that makes this storm unique is we anticipate that it is going to be slow moving. That means that it may take a long time not only to clear, but also to get, for example, the power companies back in to clear trees and to put things back in place so that folks can start moving back home.
So my main message to everybody involved is that we have to take this seriously. The federal government is working effectively with the state and local governments. It’s going to be very important that populations in all the impacted states take this seriously, listen to your state and local elected officials.
My message to the governors, as well as to the mayors, is anything they need, we will be there. And we’re going to cut through red tape. We’re not going to get bogged down with a lot of rules. We want to make sure that we are anticipating and leaning forward into making sure that we’ve got the best possible response to what is going to be a big and messy system.
So again, thank you, everybody. Craig, would you like add to something?
MR. FUGATE: Again, as the President says, it’s going to really come down to the public heeding those evacuation orders, taking protective measures. If they haven’t gotten ready, they can go to Ready.gov. Get information on how to protect them and their families, but also check on your neighbors. This is going to be a big storm. We need to be there for each other.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Let me emphasize that again Ready.gov for the general public. If you need to know how to respond, that’s where you can get centralized information.
But I think Craig’s point is exactly right. In times like this, one of the things that Americans do is we pull together and we help out one another. And so, there may be elderly populations in your area. Check on your neighbor, check on your friend. Make sure that they are prepared. If we do, then we’re going to get through this storm just fine. But we’re going to have to make sure that we are vigilant, and vigilant for a couple of days. Don’t anticipate that just because the immediate storm has passed that we’re not going to have some potential problems in a lot of these communities going forward through the week.
Complete information on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, including all advisories, watches and warnings. Recent hurricanes and tropical storms: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
NEW YORK CITY - Hurricane 'Frankenstorm' Sandy - The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg ordered the mandatory evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents as Hurricane Sandy roars towards the east coast of the United States and parts of Canada, bringing punishing winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges.
At a press conference Sunday, Michael Bloomberg said some 375,000 people in a number of coastal areas including Coney Island, Lower Manhattan and parts of the Queens neighbourhood would need to leave their homes. He said those affected would have to stay with family and friends outside of the evacuation area or at one of the 72 shelters the city has set up.
Officials in New York have also ordered the closure of its public transportation system, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, causing problems for those trying to leave the affected area on buses and subways... Read more http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/10/28/hurricane-sandy.html
New York City announced the closings of it mass transit and school systems, both the nation's largest, and ordered residents to leave some low-lying areas Sunday ahead of the massive storm approaching the eastern third of the U.S. Video by AssociatedPress
Hurricane Sandy: 'Don't Be Stupid, Get Out And Go To Higher, Safer Ground,' Officials Said.
ABC NEWS - Tens of thousands of people in coastal areas have been ordered to evacuate their homes before Hurricane Sandy pounds the eastern third of the United States with life-threatening storm surges, forceful winds and rainfall that could cripple transportation and leave millions without power.
"Don't be stupid. Get out and go to higher, safer ground," New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said today. "Let's get to work on this. We know how to do this. We've been through this before."
States of emergency were declared from North Carolina to Connecticut. Coastal communities in Delaware were ordered to evacuate by 8 p.m. tonight.
As of 5 p.m. EST today, Sandy was moving toward the northeast at nearly 15mph, slightly faster than it was measured earlier today. It is expected to take a turn to the north and then northwest, bringing the center of the nearly 900-mile storm to be near the mid-Atlantic coast Monday night.
Complete information on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, including all advisories, watches and warnings. Recent hurricanes and tropical storms: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Video with Captions - Hurricane Sandy Preparedness Press Conference - Interpreted by Deaf Interpreter - 10/26/2012.
BOSTON - Friday, October 26, 2012 Governor Deval Patrick today met with Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and his cabinet secretaries to discuss preparations for the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy on Massachusetts and announced several steps the state has already taken in anticipation of the storm. Video by MassGovernor
Complete information on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, including all advisories, watches and warnings. Recent hurricanes and tropical storms: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
According to the Washington Post, Sandy has already claimed the lives of nearly two dozen people in the Caribbean. Nine people were killed in Haiti, 11 in Cuba and 1 in Jamaica. Extensive damage due to flash flooding and mudslides was also reported. Although Sandy is currently listed as category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 MPH, meteorologists are warning that she may hit the northeastern coast of the United States with powerful winds and rains. CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano stated...Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/335573#ixzz2AR9uTs4B
Perfect storm 2012, which the Hurricane Sandy turns into 'Frankenstorm' deadly to hit the northeast. Here is the exclusive weather report to warn everyone! Brace yourselves for the spooky Halloween storm!
Hurricane 'Frankenstorm' Sandy to Hit the East Next Week.
An unusual nasty mix of a hurricane and a winter storm that forecasters are now calling 'Frankenstorm' is likely to blast most of the East Coast next week, focusing the worst of its weather mayhem around New York City and New Jersey.
Government forecasters on Thursday upped the odds of a major weather mess, now saying there's a 90 percent chance that the East will get steady gale-force winds, heavy rain, flooding and maybe snow starting Sunday and stretching past Halloween on Wednesday.
Hurricane Sandy seen from Space Frankenstorm forming Snor'eastercane.
Meteorologists say it is likely to cause $1 billion in damage.
The storm is a combination of Hurricane Sandy, now in the Caribbean, an early winter storm in the West, and a blast of arctic air from the North. They're predicted to collide and park over the country's most populous coastal corridor and reach as far inland as Ohio.
The hurricane part of the storm is likely to come ashore somewhere in New Jersey on Tuesday morning, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecaster Jim Cisco. But this is a storm that will affect a far wider area, so people all along the East have to be wary, Cisco said.
Coastal areas from Florida to Maine will feel some effects, mostly from the hurricane part, he said, and the other parts of the storm will reach inland from North_Carolina northward.
Once the hurricane part of the storm hits, "it will get broader. It won't be as intense, but its effects will be spread over a very large area," the National Hurricane Center's chief hurricane specialist, James Franklin, said Thursday.
One of the more messy aspects of the expected storm is that it just won't leave. The worst of it should peak early Tuesday, but it will stretch into midweek, forecasters say. Weather may start clearing in the mid-Atlantic the day after Halloween and Nov. 2 in the Northeast, Cisco said.
"It's almost a weeklong, five-day, six-day event," Cisco said Thursday from NOAA's northern storm forecast center in College Park, Md. "It's going to be a widespread serious storm." With every hour, meteorologists are getting more confident that this storm is going to be bad and they're able to focus their forecasts more.
Complete information on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, including all advisories, watches and warnings. Recent hurricanes and tropical storms: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Deaf Staten Island victim of Hurricane Sandy says pleas go unheeded. When police with megaphones rolled through Carol Lazorisak’s Oakwood Beach neighborhood in the hours before the hurricane thrust ashore, she did not hear their announcement about evacuation help.
