---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5196f"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "5196f"
heading: "Disaster related information services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/5196f"
units:
  - "Chapter 68 — Disaster Relief"
  - "Subchapter IV–B — Emergency Preparedness"
  - "Part A — Powers and Duties"
---

# §5196f. Disaster related information services

- (a) **In general—** Consistent with [section 5151(a) of this title](/usc/42/5151.md?p=a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-7) of Federal[^1] [Emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) identify, in coordination with [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8), population groups with limited English proficiency and take into account such groups in planning for an [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) or [major disaster](/usc/42/5122.md?p=2);
  - (2) ensure that information made available to individuals affected by a [major disaster](/usc/42/5122.md?p=2) or [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) is made available in formats that can be understood by—
    - (A) population groups identified under [paragraph (1)](#a-1); and
    - (B) individuals with disabilities or other special needs; and
  - (3) develop and maintain an informational clearinghouse of model language assistance programs and best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8) in providing services related to a [major disaster](/usc/42/5122.md?p=2) or [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1).
- (b) **Group size—** For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-7) of Federal[^1] [Emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) Management [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall define the size of a population group.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “the” probably should appear before “Federal”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 616, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689e, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1452; amended Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011—Pub. L. 111–351 substituted “Administrator” for “Director” in subsecs. (a) and (b).