Civil Rights Violation Reporting 

Protections

Any organization or government agency 

running a FEMA-funded program is 

prohibited from retaliating against you or 

any person for participating in any complaint 

action under Civil Rights law.

If you suspect retaliation, immediately 

contact FEMA’s Civil Rights team.

Language Assistance

Contact FEMA Civil Rights if you need 

assistance.

Find more information on 

www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

FEMA Civil Rights Contact

833-285-7448

Press 1 for English,

2 for Spanish,

3 for Other Languages

Or

FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov

Contact FEMA’s Office of Equal Rights, 

External Civil Rights Division for:

 Programs, information, and activities.

 Questions about FEMA Civil Rights.

 Language assistance.

 Filing or following up on a Civil Rights 

violation.

 Finding your disaster assigned Civil 

Rights Advisor.

 Reporting suspected retaliation from 

reporting a Civil Rights violation.

For more information visit:

FEMA.gov/external-civil-rights

For general questions about a FEMA 

Assistance Application, please call 

800-621-3362.

Your Civil 

Rights Before 

During and 

After Disasters

June 2022
FEMA’s Role in Ensuring Equal 

Access to Programs and Services

FEMA’s External Civil Rights Division within 

the Office of Equal Rights is responsible for 

making sure FEMA is focused on equitable 

outcomes.

They ensure nondiscrimination and 

civil rights laws are followed when 

providing:

 Programs, information, and activities or 

related services.

 Access to facilities.

 Reasonable accommodations.

 Access to language services.

 Disaster response and recovery efforts.

Civil Rights Law Requirements

Based on an individual’s race, color, 

religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, 

English proficiency or economic status, 

FEMA cannot:

 Deny programs, benefits, or services.

 Provide a program in a manner 

different from the way the program is 

provided to others.

Under the Rehabilitation Act, FEMA 

must provide:

 Written information in alternative 

formats such as braille, large print and 

audio.

 Qualified Sign Language Interpreters.

 Computer Assisted Real-time 

Translation (CART).

Under the Limited English Proficiency 

Executive Order FEMA must provide:

 Information written in languages other 

than English.

 Language interpreters.

Reporting a Civil Rights Violation

If you believe your or someone you know 

has been discriminated against, file a 

report. FEMA takes all reports seriously.

To file, contact FEMA Civil Rights.

Complaints must include:

 Your name, address, and phone 

number.

 Your signature.

 Name and address of the agency, 

institution, or department you believe 

discriminated against you.

 How, why, and when you believe you 

were discriminated against.

 Name(s) of individual(s) whom you 

allege discriminated against you (if you 

know them).

 Names of any persons with additional 

information to support or clarify your 

allegations.

 If filing on behalf of someone else, 

include their name as well.

Next Steps

 FEMA will investigate the complaint 

and attempt to resolve violations 

informally. If not possible, formal 

investigation may follow.

 If another agency has authority to 

investigate, FEMA will notify you.