Homeowners and renters in Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Morgan, Mobile, Sumter and Tallapoosa counties who suffered property damage due to the tornado and severe storms that hit the state in January had until March 16 to apply for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

According to FEMA Media Relations Specialist Larissa Hale, the agency received nearly 6,000 applications for assistance before the March 16 deadline.

While the deadline for federal disaster assistance has passed, people impacted by the tornadoes still have options for other types of assistance. FEMA has issued a fact sheet with a list of reminders, as well as additional ways to get help.

If you still need assistance on the road to recovery from the storms, here are some options:

Stay in Touch with FEMA

If you registered for federal disaster assistance, stay in touch with FEMA.

The easiest way to update your application, check your status, or provide missing information is to create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for smartphones, or call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362.

The helpline is available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time, Monday to Friday. If you don’t have internet access or need services not found on the website, you may also call FEMA’s helpline to:

· Add or change household members and number of occupants

· Update contact preferences

· Update preferences for payment, such as electronic fund transfer, direct deposit, or U.S. Treasury check

· Notify FEMA of a change in your current address and/or post-disaster income

· Correct or verify home and property damage

If you contact FEMA, be prepared to give representatives your nine-digit registration number, which can be found on all communications from FEMA.

Appeal FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Determination Letter

If FEMA determined your application for disaster assistance was ineligible or you feel the award amount is insufficient, you have the right to an appeal. For more information, you may contact the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.

Contact the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Desk for tips on how to rebuild

FEMA has a team of hazard mitigation specialists who can provide tips on rebuilding property, as well as making small changes to improve safety, such as elevating certain objects inside your home.

“They may recommend that you raise the electrical outlets a certain amount of feet,” said Hale. “Things like that can cause major damage, even just from flooding.”

To contact an outreach mitigation specialist, you can call 833-336-2487 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday or email [email protected].

Contact the Small Business Administration (SBA)

If you applied for a Small Business Administration Loan after the disaster declaration and want to follow up or if you have any questions about your loan, visit the SBA’s secure website at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/.

Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

Contact the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF)

The Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) is a “fund of last resort” for unmet needs of families and individuals working to recover from disasters in Alabama. For more information visit www.servealabama.gov/gerf.

Contact Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

The Long-Term Recovery Committees are made up of representatives from faith-based, nonprofit, government, business, and other organizations working within a community to assist individuals and families as they recover from a disaster. For information call 334-269-4505 or email [email protected]. Currently, there are active LTRGs in Autauga, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Greene, and Hale counties, as well as Selma and Dallas county.

Contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD offers programs to assist both homeowners and renters. Visit HUD online or call the Federal Housing Authority Resource Center at 800- 225-5342.

Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development

The USDA Rural Development offers programs to qualified applicants to repair and rebuild their homes after the Jan. 12 storms. For information on how to apply for assistance under the Section 504 Home Repair Program, visit your local USDA Rural Development office or go online to www.rd.usda.gov/al.

You also may call the Rural Housing Service state office Single Family Housing Programs at 334-279-3440.

Remember the tax deadline extension

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that survivors of the Jan. 12 severe storms receive automatic extensions on their tax filing deadlines. Survivors have until Oct. 16, 2023, to file their tax returns. For information, call 800-829-1040 or visit the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/.