ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A regional state agency is offering Western North Carolinians an opportunity to get better prepared for emergencies.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Asheville Regional Center will host a free emergency preparedness workshop on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The session is designed to help deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf/blind individuals better understand how to respond during disasters, which can be especially important in Western North Carolina, where severe weather and other emergencies can develop quickly.

Organizers say the workshop will include ASL interpreters and on-site CART captioning to ensure accessibility for all participants.

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. Those interested must RSVP by June 1 to Asheville Regional Center Manager Susan Sacco at Susan.Sacco@dhhs.nc.gov.