Homeowners, renters and business owners in Blue Earth, Freeborn, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele and Waseca counties must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eligible for federal disaster assistance for flooding damages and losses in Minnesota, according to a press release.

Disaster survivors may register in any of the following ways: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362.

Survivors should contact their insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or those who are underinsured may be eligible for help.

The following information is needed when registering with FEMA: Social Security number, address of the location where the damage occurred, current address, current telephone number, insurance information, total household annual income, routing and account number for your checking or savings account (this allows FEMA to directly transfer disaster assistance funds into your bank account), and a description of disaster-caused damage and losses.

After registering with FEMA, applicants will be contacted by a FEMA-contracted housing inspector to schedule an appointment to inspect the house and determine the extent of damage.

The application deadline is Jan. 28.