Victims of the April 16 tornadoes that tore through North Carolina have until midnight tonight to apply for federal disaster aid.

To receive grants and assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, storm victims must apply by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting fema.gov.

Since the storms, 9,128 North Carolina victims have registered with FEMA, and the agency has doled out $15 million.

In Wake County, 2,195 people have registered, and they've received $1.45 million in aid. In Johnston County, 460 victims have registered and received $1.01 million.

FEMA spokesman Gene Kauffman said he worries that some victims are still hesitant to register. "They feel like they haven't had much damage and they've got insurance," Kauffman said. "If they're reluctant to come forward, they should not be."

Kauffman said victims with insurance can qualify for help if their policies didn't cover all their losses. Also, registering withFEMA doesn't affect one's eligibility for other federal aid programs.

Staff writer Colin Campbell

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/06/20/1285758/tornado-aid-deadline-today.html#ixzz1Pp3cW2aX