Language Access Services

FEMA is committed to ensuring meaningful access to programs, activities, services, and information for all disaster survivors, including individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).

FEMA takes reasonable steps to provide individuals with LEP meaningful access to programs or activities conducted by FEMA or provided by recipients of FEMA financial assistance. 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.

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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 1-800-621-3362

  • Press 1 for English
  • Press 2 for Spanish
  • Press 3 for other languages

If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service.  

For additional assistance, email FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov.  Disaster survivors seeking information or language access services will be directed to the relevant support for their disaster-specific operations.

File a Complaint

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If you believe that you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you may file a civil rights complaint by calling the FEMA OCR Civil Rights Resource Line at (833) 285-7448; or email FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov.

When a person with limited English proficiency believes they were subjected to discrimination, including a wrongful denial of a request for language access services, they may file a complaint with the FEMA Office of Civil Rights.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, call FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service.

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