FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday Kentucky will be launching a new severe weather program in honor of Virginia Moore, a beloved sign language interpreter who died last year.
At the height of the pandemic, Beshear gave "Team Kentucky" updates and Moore stood alongside him, signing the important information. Despite being in such a dark time, many Kentuckians found comfort in watching their video updates.
In May 2023, Moore died of cancer. She first announced her diagnosis in 2020 during a public briefing. Beshear was heartbroken over the loss of his colleague and friend.
"Virginia was a rock of stability and grace during the pandemic. She helped bring us all together in our most challenging times, so I hope you’ll join Britainy and me today in praying for all who loved her," Beshear said shortly after she passed.
The "Moore Safe Nights" program will distribute 700 deaf or hard-of-hearing weather alert radios at no cost to eligible Kentuckians who apply.
“September is National Preparedness Month and also Deaf Awareness Month, so I can think of no better way to honor my good friend, the late Virginia Moore, than to offer free emergency weather radios with potentially life-saving technology to people who are deaf and hard of hearing,” Beshear said during a Team Kentucky update on Thursday.
Moore was a long-time executive director of Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Beshear said she was a fierce advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing Kentuckians.
“Virginia was a tireless advocate for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and was committed to making sure they have access to information just like any other Kentuckian. I am committed to carrying on her legacy by ensuring that all of our citizens have the resources they need to stay safe and informed during severe weather emergencies,” Beshear said.
The weather radios are equipped with pillow-shaker and strobe-light attachments to alert people who are deaf and hard of hearing of severe weather warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
The radios also have text displays that light up, so Kentuckians know the type of weather warning issued. While the radios alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to dangerous weather situations 24 hours a day, the warnings are especially important when the person is asleep.
How to apply
If you're interested in applying for a weather radio, click here or call 800-372-2907 VP to have an application mailed to you.
To be eligible to receive a radio, applicants must be deaf or hard-of-hearing and reside in Kentucky.
After an application is received and processed to certify eligibility, the commission will send all qualified applicants a letter letting them know when and where to pick up the equipment in their area.