CENTERVILLE – FEMA representative Colleen Appleby was in attendance at Tuesday’s Appanoose County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Appleby is an Intergovernmental Affairs Officer for FEMA who deals strictly with local officials in a 26-county territory in Iowa.

“My job is to make sure you get everything you need. You’re just as important as Cedar Rapids, believe me,” Appleby told the board.

Appanoose County, along with 77 other Iowa counties, was recently declared a disaster area for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding by FEMA for the period of May 25, 2008 through Aug. 13, 2008.

Appleby informed the Supervisors that 55 Appanoose County residents have applied for individual FEMA assistance thus far. Centerville had 30 of the 55 applicants while Mystic had 13, Moravia 5, Moulton 4, Rathbun 2 and Cincinnati 1.

The deadline for public assistance is Sept. 12 while the individual assistance deadline is Sept. 29.

“If individuals have not registered by then they’ll be out of luck for FEMA help,” said Appleby.

Individuals in Appanoose County can apply for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or apply online at http://www.fema.gov/ assistance.

"I encourage all Iowans who have been affected by this year's severe weather to register for federal and state assistance," said Gov. Chet Culver in a recent FEMA press release. "The individual assistance program is here to help, and although the deadline is fast approaching, there is still time for Iowans to utilize this important program."

"You may think now that you don't need assistance, but you may later have unexpected expenses," said Bill Vogel, FEMA's federal coordinating officer in a recent release. "It's definitely in your best interest to get your name in the system before the Sept. 29 deadline. because after that date, it's too late."