FEMA video in American Sign Language (ASL) about interpreters at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).
[Transcript:]
After a disaster, you should register for disaster assistance online with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If you are unable to register online for any reason, visit the nearest Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To find out where the closest DRC is, visit www.fema.gov/drc or call the FEMA Helpline at 800.621.3362. 711 or VRS users also call 800.621.3362. TTY users call 800.462.7585.
When you arrive at a Disaster Recovery Center, or DRC, you will have immediate access to VRI to communicate with staff about your case, if you have already registered for FEMA services or for requesting a sign language interpreter. VRI may not be appropriate to register for FEMA assistance in the DRC. If you are needing an in-person sign language interpreter, please make that request to the DRC Manager on-site.
The DRC Manager will then coordinate with the appropriate people to schedule a sign language interpreter. Depending on the availability of a sign language interpreter and the DRC operating hours, the survivor may have to wait up to 24 hours. In most cases a sign language interpreter will be available within an hour or so.
If you do not want to wait for a sign language interpreter, you can make an appointment for a later time to come back to the DRC.
Remember if you have not registered for FEMA assistance, please identify your sign language interpreter needs on the registration form. If you did not identify that you need a sign language interpreter, you can call the FEMA Helpline and have them put it in your registration that you need to have a sign language interpreter to access FEMA programs and services.
Remember, you have three choices – you can use VRI at the DRC, request an on-site interpreter and wait for one to arrive, or make an appointment to come back with an interpreter scheduled.
*Published October 5, 2017*
