April 30 is the deadline to apply for assistance from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for damage related to the April 16, 2011 tornado and the severe storms associated with it.

Following the storm that killed two and left hundreds of homes damaged in Gloucester County alone, Gov. Bob McDonnell established the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is designed to help with efforts to repair and rebuild where critical unmet needs existed.

Any resident affected by the tornado should submit an application to Gloucester’s emergency services office located at 6504 Main Street by the end of the month. No new request will be considered after this date.

If assistance is denied, the deadline for appeals is June 30. An appeal will be considered if new information related to a previously submitted application becomes available.

A request to add a new form of repair or for additional furnishings, etc., would be considered a new application and not an appeal, a rele...