RALEIGH – Gov. Pat McCrory has asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare seven North Carolina counties stricken by recent flooding as disaster areas.

If approved, the federal declaration McCrory sought Friday will qualify flooding victims eligible for low-interest government loans to repair or replace damaged homes or businesses.

Up to a foot of rain fell within a few hours in portions of Catawba and Lincoln counties on July 27, causing numerous low-lying areas to flood for the second or third time in the past two months. Residents in neighboring Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties were also affected by high water.

State officials said initial reports indicate approximately 600 homes and businesses in CatawbaCounty were impacted. Of those, 30 were destroyed or had major damage.

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