Sumter, Greene counties eligible for FEMA assistance

CLANTON, Ala. (WTOK) - Sumter and Greene counties are eligible for FEMA assistance for damage from the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in Alabama.

Individuals and households may apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, which may include temporary housing assistance, basic home repairs and certain other uninsured disaster-related needs. Information for renters who need to make claims is included.

Autauga, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Hale and Tallapoosa counties are also approved for Individual Assistance.

Survivors may apply for disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov, by using the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 800-621-3362. The helpline is open, and help is available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

For information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4684.

Types of assistance available:
Rental Assistance for Temporary Housing FEMA may be able to provide rent, including a security deposit if your primary residence was made uninhabitable and requires repairs to make the residence habitable or inaccessible by the tornadoes. The assistance includes essential utilities such as electricity and water. Lodging Expense Reimbursement Under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, lodging expenses for hotels, motels, or other reasonable shortterm lodging may be eligible for reimbursement if an applicant is displaced from their primary residence and FEMA verifies that a primary residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible due to the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes. Major Repairs and Out-of-Pocket Expenses FEMA’s Individuals and Household Program assistance is intended to meet the basic needs of your household, not to restore your home and all your personal property items to a pre-tornado condition. ▪ “Housing Assistance” covers repairs to structural parts of your home. This includes windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, utilities (electrical, plumbing and gas systems), and entrance/exit ways. FEMA may also reimburse for repair or replacement of your furnace, well and septic system. ▪ “Other Needs Assistance” may provide reimbursement to homeowners and renters for such uninsured or underinsured out-of-pocket tornado-related expenses as: - Medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; repair, cleaning, or replacement of clothing; household furniture and appliances; specialized tools used in your occupation; childcare, educational materials, moving, storage and other necessary expenses related to the Jan. 12 storms and tornadoes. - Your personally owned and registered, disaster-damaged cars and trucks may also be eligible for repair or replacement by FEMA Renters with Tornado Damage May Apply for FEMA Assistance FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is available to students, renters and homeowners whose homes and property were damaged by the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes. Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a one- or two-month period and can be reviewed for further assistance. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 16, 2023. Renters may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses, including: - Replacement or repair of necessary personal property such as school supplies, including textbooks, and also furniture, appliances and clothing - Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by those who are self-employed - Repair of primary and registered vehicles - Uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses Renters and homeowners are required to submit copies of insurance settlements because, by law, FEMA is prohibited from duplicating or paying for expenses already available or covered by insurance or other sources. After applying for FEMA disaster assistance, those affected by the tornadoes may be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster caused or related personal property losses and vehicles related damages. SBA is the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for individuals, families, and businesses. To remain eligible for additional FEMA programs like Other Needs Assistance, those who receive an SBA loan application are encouraged to submit the application – even if you decide not to accept the loan offer. To apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance: Go to DisasterAssiscance.gov Use the FEMA mobile app; or Learn more at fema.gov/disaster/4684 2 Call toll-free 800-621-3362. The helpline is open, and help is available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

Types of assistance available:

Rental Assistance for Temporary Housing
FEMA may be able to provide rent, including a security deposit if your primary residence was made uninhabitable
and requires repairs to make the residence habitable or inaccessible by the tornadoes. The assistance includes
essential utilities such as electricity and water.
Lodging Expense Reimbursement
Under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, lodging expenses for hotels, motels, or other reasonable shortterm lodging may be eligible for reimbursement if an applicant is displaced from their primary residence and FEMA
verifies that a primary residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible due to the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line
winds and tornadoes.
Major Repairs and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
FEMA’s Individuals and Household Program assistance is intended to meet the basic needs of your household, not
to restore your home and all your personal property items to a pre-tornado condition.
▪ “Housing Assistance” covers repairs to structural parts of your home. This includes windows, doors, floors, walls,
ceilings, cabinets, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, utilities (electrical, plumbing and gas
systems), and entrance/exit ways. FEMA may also reimburse for repair or replacement of your furnace, well and
septic system.
▪ “Other Needs Assistance” may provide reimbursement to homeowners and renters for such uninsured or
underinsured out-of-pocket tornado-related expenses as:
- Medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; repair, cleaning, or replacement of clothing;
household furniture and appliances; specialized tools used in your occupation; childcare, educational
materials, moving, storage and other necessary expenses related to the Jan. 12 storms and tornadoes.
- Your personally owned and registered, disaster-damaged cars and trucks may also be eligible for repair or
replacement by FEMA
Renters with Tornado Damage May Apply for FEMA Assistance
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is available to students, renters and homeowners whose homes and property were damaged by the Jan. 12 severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes.
Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a one- or two-month period and can
be reviewed for further assistance. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 16, 2023.
Renters may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal
property losses and other disaster-related expenses, including:
- Replacement or repair of necessary personal property such as school supplies, including textbooks, and also furniture, appliances and clothing
- Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by those who are self-employed
- Repair of primary and registered vehicles
- Uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses
Renters and homeowners are required to submit copies of insurance settlements because, by law, FEMA is
prohibited from duplicating or paying for expenses already available or covered by insurance or other sources.
After applying for FEMA disaster assistance, those affected by the tornadoes may be referred to the U.S. Small
Business Administration for disaster caused or related personal property losses and vehicles related damages. SBA
is the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for individuals, families, and businesses.
To remain eligible for additional FEMA programs like Other Needs Assistance, those who receive an SBA loan
application are encouraged to submit the application – even if you decide not to accept the loan offer.
To apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance:
Go to DisasterAssiscance.gov
Use the FEMA mobile app; or
Learn more at fema.gov/disaster/4684 2
Call toll-free 800-621-3362. The helpline is open, and help is available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time
in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the
number for that service.

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw. For information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4684.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.