Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents following the announcement of a presidential disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 25.

In North Carolina, the following counties are available for physical and economic injury disaster loans: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.

In addition, small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations may apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) in the following counties:

North Carolina

• Cherokee
• Graham
• Iredell
• Mecklenburg
• Surry
• Swain
• Yadkin

South Carolina

• Cherokee
• Greenville
• Oconee
• Pickens
• Spartanburg
• York

Tennessee

• Carter
• Cocke
• Greene
• Johnson
• Sevier
• Unicoi

Georgia

• Rabun
• Towns
• Union

Virginia

• Grayson

The SBA says about one in four small businesses fail after a disaster. Visit the SBA’s website to learn more about loans to help recover and rebuild from this unprecedented storm.