• How to Request Information Under the FOIA
• Where to Send Your Request
• Protected Information
• FOIA Fees

How to Request Information Under the FOIA

Any person may request records from any District agency under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. s 552. Under the FOIA, the request must reasonably describe the records requested and the request must be made in accordance with published rules. The rules that govern FOIA requests submitted to FEMS can be found at 49 CFR Part 7.

Under the regulation, FOIA requests to FEMS must:

• be submitted in writing
• indicate that the request is being made under the FOIA
• be enclosed in an envelope that is marked prominently with the letters “FOIA”
• be addressed to the appropriate office

In addition, each FOIA request should describe to the fullest extent possible the particular records that are desired, including (if known) the date of the record and the person or office that generated or has possession of it.

When the agency receives a FOIA request, it will search for responsive agency records that were in existence and in our possession at the time that the FOIA request was received. The FOIA does not require agencies to create new records or to respond to specific questions. In addition, the FOIA does not require agencies to respond to requests that are continuing in nature. In other words, for records that are created or received by the agency at a future date, individuals must submit subsequent FOIA requests.

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