Floridian Survivors: FEMA Speaks Your Language

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Language is not a barrier to receiving federal disaster assistance. If you or someone you know wants to apply for assistance in a language other than English, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) probably can provide a translator or interpreter in your language.

More than 27 percent of Floridians speak a language other than English in their homes, with Spanish the most common, according to recent Census Bureau data.

FEMA has many ways to meet survivors’ language needs. Many FEMA employees are bilingual or multilingual and can assist survivors in their primary language during encounters in communities, at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) or at public meetings.

As Disaster Survivors Assistance Teams canvass neighborhoods in designated counties, they take special note of language needs and work with non-English speaking survivors to help them register. They are equipped with iPads that translate into languages that survivors understand.

Survivors can register for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov. or by calling 800-621-3362, where they can speak with an employee fluent in their language. However, it is helpful if someone who speaks English can assist the survivor when calling FEMA. The toll free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

In the wake of hurricanes Hermine and Matthew, FEMA has provided Floridians with translations in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Burmese, Arabic, Korean and German.

All Disaster Recovery Centers are accessible and equipped with tools to accommodate survivors who need disability-related communication aids. Each center provides communication accessibility tools for people with communication disabilities. An American Sign Language interpreter can be available by appointment at the Disaster Recovery Center when you visit.

Survivors who are deaf, hard-of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call

800-462-7585 to register. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) may call 800-621-3362.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see www.fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.