But, Tim Mosier, emergency management director for Pettis County, said victims probably have already applied for government aid.

Sherry Vinson filled out paperwork for the Federal Emergency Management Agency a month ago.

"It's kind of just a wait-and-see thing, as to whether we're eligible for anything or not," she said. "It wouldn't have been so bad if we had lost either our home or our business. But, with having both of them here, we lost everything in one shot."

Mosier knows what FEMA help means.

"When you're talking about your home's destroyed or it's to the point where it has to be re-built, low- finance loans, that's important," he explained.

After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA withstood a storm of criticism for its slow response to the Gulf Coast. However, Mosier said he has no complaints here.

"FEMA treated us very well, they still are, and they was on the spot, doing their jobs," he added.

With or without government help, Vinson is slowly putting her life back together.

"You look at it and you think, 'My God, I don't think I can ever clean it up,'" she admitted. "But it's coming along. It's slow, but it's coming along."

FEMA's latest figures show 3,700 people have asked for help in Missouri, and the agency has arranged for $3 million in individual assistance.