Selma, AL — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released a video message marking one year since the devastating tornadoes which struck Alabama’s 7th Congressional District on January 12, 2023. Rep. Sewell recounted her own experience following the storms, expressed her gratitude to the many partners who have supported the recovery effort, and provided an update on the progress made throughout the past year.

Watch it on YouTube here. 

In the year since the storms, Rep. Sewell has been working diligently to coordinate an effective disaster response with federal, state, and local partners. On January 26, 2023, Rep. Sewell led the Alabama Congressional Delegation in a letter urging President Biden to increase the federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures to 100%. President Biden granted this request on Thursday, February 9. 

In March, Rep. Sewell hosted the first community conversation to give residents an opportunity to share their hopes and dreams for the future of the region. With their thoughts in mind, Rep. Sewell secured a $500,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration to support long-term recovery planning in Selma and Dallas County.

Altogether, Rep. Sewell helped deliver more than $22 million in FEMA and SBA assistance to Greene, Sumter, Hale, and Dallas Counties to clean up debris, help homeowners and renters rebuild, support small businesses, and more. Rep. Sewell also secured a number of major federal grants to support the recovery including $2 million from the Delta Regional Authority to repave Selma’s roads and a $500,000 HUD CHOICE Neighborhoods planning grant to build more affordable housing.

Today, more than 95 percent of the clean-up effort has been completed. Rep. Sewell pledges to continue working with federal, state, and local partners for as long as it takes to help the region rebuild better and stronger than before.

On Thursday, Rep. Sewell spoke on the House Floor to observe the one-year anniversary of the January 12th storms. Watch it on YouTube here.