Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, was appointed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the National Advisory Council Monday.

“I appreciate Sen. Bolkcom’s willingness to serve on the [council] and am confident the agency will benefit from his ideas and experience,” Craig Fugate, administrator for FEMA said in the release.

“Members are appointed based on their leadership in state, local, tribal government, and in the private-sector. Members are also experts in their subject matter; both of these requirements are exceeded by Sen. Bolkcom.”

According to an Iowa Senate press release, Bolkcom will be the only state legislator serving on the three-year term on the council.

The council was created to develop plans and strategies regarding national FEMA efforts.

— by Jordyn Reiland