U.S. Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Leslie Davis was in Vicksburg Monday afternoon to tour flooded areas with city and county officials.

“She explained the process of how to deal with a federal disaster,” Mayor Paul Winfield said Monday evening following the tour with Davis, who was headed back to Washington, D.C., this morning. “One of the things she stressed was that you only get something if you ask for it.”

Davis serves under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and was sent to assess flooding in the areas around Warren County, Winfield said.

Davis toured the Redwood area and Kings community by boat, driven by Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace.

She visited Redwood Elementary School and walked around the levee built around the west and north sides of the school, Winfield said.

The City of Vicksburg plans to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency for equipment to maneuver around flood water, Winfield said.

“I’m thinking about the tools and equipment that we are going to need,” he said.

Individual assistance through FEMA also is available, he said.

He urged residents who are directly affected by the flood to call 800-621-3362 or visit www.fema.gov to apply for assistance and track the status of their application.

Earlier in the day at a meeting of the City of Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Winfield said he plans to hold another community meeting next week to update the public about available federal assistance. No date or place has been set.