Homeowners and renters who sustained damage to their primary property due to the tornado and severe storms that struck multiple counties in the state on Jan. 12 have one day left to apply for individual federal assistance.

The deadline is March 16 to apply for federal assistance in Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Mobile, Morgan, Sumter, and Tallapoosa counties.

The office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who represents the districts, issued a reminder earlier this week in a news release.

“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 Sewell, who represents Alabama’s 7th District, in the release. “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!”

According to information in the news release, homeowners and renters in the designated counties can apply for the assistance in three ways:

• Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (The helpline is available from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT)
• Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
• Downloading the free FEMA mobile app for smartphones

For the application, homeowners and renters will need to provide:

• A current phone number
• Their address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are currently staying
• Their social security number
• A general list of damages and losses
• Banking information for those who choose direct deposit
• If insured, the policy number or agent and company name

If applicants are unable to locate important documents, FEMA also will help identify other ways to obtain necessary information.

An instructional video on how to apply for disaster assistance is also available on FEMA’s Youtube Channel.

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

A series of storms hit Alabama on Jan. 12, leaving a large swath of damage in their paths, including an EF-2 tornado that devastated parts of the city of Selma.

Over the past two months, Sewell (D-Ala.) has hosted a series of disaster relief town halls and resource fairs for the affected counties as they work to recover from the damage. On Jan. 25, the Alabama Congressional Delegation issued a letter urging President Biden to increase the amount of disaster relief from the FEMA Public Assistance program for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Alabama. Biden granted the request on Feb. 9.

In early March, Sewell co-hosted the annual Faith and Politics Pilgrimage to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. During the annual bipartisan gathering of Congressional leaders, Sewell demanded help for Selma and Dallas County as she and her fellow political leaders gathered at the center of the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the delegation’s ceremonial photograph the day before the commemoration of Bloody Sunday and voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery.

“It is up to this administration to stand in the gallery and make sure that we get all the resources for Selma and for the Blackbelt. I am unapologetically asking all of you to do what you can. Not because I’m begging. But because it’s the right thing to do in order for this city and this place that we’re standing on to not just survive, but thrive. We need the help of all of you,” Sewell said as she addressed the delegation that included Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

“So on behalf of the proud people that I represent in Selma, Alabama. I welcome you. I want you to see us, and feel us, and know that you’re always welcome to come. But we want you to stay in Selma. We want you to visit a museum in Selma. We want you to spend money in Selma. In order to do that, we have to bring back downtown Selma. We have to have better housing. Whatever is in your control in appropriations or wherever you sit in Congress, I beg you, there’s something that Selma needs. Whatever CEO or head of government relations or whatever kind of company you represent, we need you.”