Any member of the public may contact FEMA if they feel they are the victim of discrimination in connection with FEMA employees, programs or activities, or those conducted by recipients of FEMA financial assistance.
A complaint of discrimination may be based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- To start the process, you must contact the Office of Civil Rights’ External Civil Rights Division (ECRD) by email, phone or mail.
- Upon receipt, ECRD will review the allegation to determine relevant facts and jurisdiction for ECRD to accept a complaint, offer alternative dispute resolution, and investigate.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, ECRD will make a finding on the allegations.
- Discriminatory incidents must be reported to ECRD within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act.
Contacting the Office of Civil Rights and Submitting a Complaint
You may contact the Office of Civil Rights’ External Civil Rights Division (ECRD) through the phone, email, and mail options listed below for general questions, to raise concerns, or to initiate a civil rights complaint.
Survivors and members of the public can access Civil Rights Advisors regarding Civil Rights questions, file a Civil Rights complaint, check the status of an existing Civil Rights complaint, and process requests for reasonable modifications when receiving FEMA services.
For assistance in accessing a FEMA or FEMA-funded benefit, program, or service:
- Call the Civil Rights Resource Line at (833) 285-7448
- Press 1 for English
- Press 2 for Spanish
- Press 3 for other languages
- Email FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov
- Mailing Address:
FEMA Office of Civil Rights
C Street, SW, Room 4SW-0915
Washington, DC 20472-3505