POLICY AND NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency complies with Federal civil rights laws and is committed to providing its programs and services without discrimination in accordance with:
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (including language).
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
• Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities.
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination based on age.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation 6 C.F.R. Part 19, which prohibits discrimination based on religion in social service programs.
It is against the law for Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to retaliate against anyone who takes action to oppose discrimination, files a grievance, or participates in the investigation of a grievance in accordance with the above authorities.
To File a Complaint
If you think that Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way based on race, color, national origin (including language), disability, sex, age, or religion, you can file a complaint in person or by mail, telephone (though complaint will need to be confirmed in written form to allow proper processing), or email by using the below information:
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Attn: Legal Department
1 MEMA Drive
P.O. Box 5644
Pearl, MS 39288
Phone: 601-933-6395
Email: complaints@mema.ms.gov
It is important to file any complaint as soon as possible, but at all times within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. Any submitted complaint should also include identifying information on the complainant sufficient to allow confirmation of receipt to be provided and to facilitate submission of any follow-up questions, responses, and information requests.
In addition, or instead of the above, aggrieved parties may also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL):
E-mail: CRCLCompliance@hq.dhs.gov (fastest method to submit your complaint)
Fax: 202-401-4708
U.S. Mail:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Compliance Branch, Mail Stop #0190
2707 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE
Washington, D.C. 20528
For additional information: www.dhs.gov/crcl Phone: 202-401-1474 Toll-Free: 1-866-644-8360
Complaint Processing
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency’s goal is to address all complaints within 180 days of receipt, though the time to carefully investigate complaints may be longer depending on the nature of the complaint and the complexity of the issue(s).
Within 15 days of receipt of the complaint, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will notify the complainant to confirm receipt of the complaint using the contact information provided with the complaint and, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with any preferences for method of communication included therein.
Within 60 days of receipt of the complaint, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Legal Department will review the complaint and will conduct an internal investigation of the complaint to determine whether it will refer the complaint to an appropriate external agency for investigation, or whether additional information from the complainant may be needed to support further investigation. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Legal Department will contact the complainant, as needed, to request any additional information and to provide follow-up status updates as appropriate. All communications will, to the greatest extent possible, be handled consistent with any preferences for method of communication included in the complaint and all requests for information will include information on how to respond and any applicable deadlines.
If additional information is requested and not received within the time frame indicated in the request(s), the case may be closed. The case may also be closed if the complainant notifies the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Legal Department that the complainant no longer wishes to pursue the complaint.
If the complaint is outside of the scope of services of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the complainant will be notified of the name and contact information of the appropriate agency with jurisdiction, if known.
For complaints that warrant resolution, MEMA will provide notice to the complainant that further investigation will be conducted which may or may not include an interview with the complainant. If the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Legal Department needs additional time to continue its investigation, it will advise the complainant, including an estimated additional length of time needed to complete same.
At the close of MEMA’s investigation, MEMA will provide notification to the complainant using the contact information and method of preferred communication included in the complaint, or updated since in writing, and will, in addition if different, provide a response in writing to the complainant detailing what actions will be/have been taken in response to the complaint.
Information and Services for Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Limited English Proficiency
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency:
• Provides free aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, etc.), to communicate effectively with persons with disabilities.
• Provides free language services, such as qualified foreign language interpreters and information written in other languages, to ensure meaningful access to programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency.
• Provides, to the best of its ability, reasonable accommodations to individuals with functional disabilities who request accommodations within the facilities that MEMA provides access to its programs and services
If you need these services, please contact:
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Attn: Legal Department
1 MEMA Drive
P.O. Box 5644
Pearl, MS 39288
Phone: 601-933-6395
Email: complaints@mema.ms.gov