FEMA is committed to ensuring equal access to information and services for all disaster survivors, including people who speak languages other than English.
Reasonable steps are taken to provide individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) with meaningful access to all programs or activities conducted both by FEMA and by any organization receiving funding from FEMA. These include providing free written translation of documents and oral interpretation services from qualified interpreters — including staff members, contractors, language lines, or video remote technology — to disaster survivors.
An individual with LEP is a person who does not speak English as their primary language and who has a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English.
Request Language Access Services
To request Language Access Services, please call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
- Press 1 for English
- Press 2 for Spanish
- Press 3 for other languages.
Dial 711 for available video relay services.
Disaster survivors seeking information or language access services will be directed to the relevant support for their specific disaster.
If a Request is Denied
You may file a complaint with the External Civil Rights Division if you feel that you have been discriminated against.
FEMA may deny a request if the request was not made by or on behalf of a person with limited English proficiency, if there is no language access-related need for the request, or the request would fundamentally alter the nature of a program or result in an undue burden on FEMA.
When a person with limited English proficiency believes that they have been subjected to a discriminatory practice regarding equal access, including a wrongful denial of a request for language access services, they may file a complaint with FEMA Office of Civil Rights’ External Civil Rights Division (ECRD).