A Facebook Page Created Soon After the Amatrice Earthquake Provides a Useful Communication Tool for Deaf People, Their Relatives and Caregivers

Although numerous communication protocols and international and Italian conventions have been created to assist people with disabilities during earthquakes or other maxi-emergencies, no tailored strategies exist to disseminate information online to deaf people. On August 24, 2016, a devastating earthquake destroyed Amatrice in central Italy. This disaster highlighted the lack of registries listing disabled people possibly involved and tailored online communication tools. Having this information might have benefitted emergency procedures. To expedite information access and to improve risk management, we created an online information tool tailored for deaf persons. Within hours after the earthquake, we created a Facebook page including subtitled video, Italian sign language information and service numbers. People who accessed the Facebook page distributed the information on the various social media they used. Of a total of 43,507 Italian deaf people, about 0.4% lived in the earthquake territory. Our Facebook page obtained unexpectedly numerous accesses from deaf people and satisfaction from deaf and hearing people. A total of 60% deaf and 10% hearing people asked for more information. Despite limitations, our effort to create a page tailored to deaf people, via a worldwide social media, permits fast access and service information and outlines safety precautions during maxi-emergencies. Our Facebook page provides a starting point for developing other online tools to disseminate information for disabled groups after earthquakes or other maxi-emergencies.