Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) reminded Alabamians that homeowners and renters who sustained damage to their primary property due to the January 12th severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes have two days left to apply for federal assistance. The deadline is March 16, 2023, for survivors to apply for federal assistance in Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Mobile, Morgan, Sumter, and Tallapoosa counties.

“Following the January 12th storms, I have made it my mission to get our communities the resources needed to rebuild better and stronger than before,” said Rep. Sewell. “In order to take advantage of the individual assistance available, my constituents in the eligible counties have until this Thursday, March 16th to submit an application. I remain committed to ensuring my constituents can benefit from the critical assistance available right now!”

Homeowners and renters in the designated counties can apply for assistance the following ways:

  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The helpline is open, and help is available from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT.
  • Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov 
  • Download the free FEMA mobile app for smartphones

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v= WZGpWI2RCNw

When applying, homeowners and renters will need:

  • A current phone number where you can be contacted
  • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying
  • Your Social Security Number
  • A general list of damage and losses
  • Banking information if you choose direct deposit
  • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

If you are unable to locate important documents, FEMA will help you to identify other ways to verify your information.

Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

For information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4684. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.