Perdue seeks disaster aid for eight more counties

A day after federal aid was approved for six North Carolina counties hit by flooding two weeks ago, Gov. Beverly Perdue asked that aid be approved for another eight counties.

President Barack Obama approved disaster aid Thursday for residents in Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Onslow and Tyrrell counties.

Perdue wants to add Brunswick, Camden, Jones, Martin, New Hanover, Pender, Pitt and Washington counties to the disaster declaration.

“We know this storm washed out homes and wrecked lives across Eastern North Carolina," she said in a statement. “We're moving as quickly as possible to bring all available help to our neighbors.”

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Homeowners can get up to $240,000 in low-interest loans to replace their homes and some belongings. Renters can qualify for up to $40,000.

Anyone who doesn’t qualify for a loan may be eligible for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

State emergency management officials said Friday that about 470 homes and more than 90 businesses with little or no insurance were damaged or destroyed by the flooding.

Heavy rains two weeks ago caused flooding in the eastern part of the state worse than when Hurricane Floyd hit the area 11 years ago.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties could begin applying for  federal assistance on Friday by registering online or calling 1-800-621-FEMA.