The Small Business Administration says homeowners and businesses with damage from the March 28 tornadoes and storms in Mississippi can now apply for low-interest disaster loans.

The SBA disaster declaration came Thursday in response to a request from Gov. Haley Barbour. The declaration covers Simpson County and the adjacent counties of Copiah, Covington, Hinds, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Rankin and Smith.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, while homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Qualified businesses with damage are eligible for low-interest loans up to $2 million for repairs.