Residents of Warren County are eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist with costs associated with severe weather and tornadoes that swept across the state April 4.

Beginning today, those affected by the storm can go to a Disaster Loan Outreach Center established at Warren County Emergency Management Agency offices in the basement of the courthouse. Hours for the local center and three other centers are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice.

Signs to direct people to the office will be posted inside the courthouse lobby, EMA deputy director Jennifer Thomas said this morning.

Disaster victims who live in Newton, Rankin, Scott, Warren, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Hinds, Issaquena, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Simpson, Smith and Yazoo are eligible to apply for the loans.

Centers are also set up in Newton, Rankin and Scott counties.

SBA offers loans for homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property such as furniture and clothing or to repair disaster damaged primary residences. Loans to businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations are available to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory. Interest rates will range from 2.75 to 5.5 percent for homeowners and renters, and from 4 to 8 percent for businesses and non-profit organizations.

The deadline for applying for the loans is June 16. Information on the SBA loan program is available at its customer service hotlines, 1-800-659-2955 and 1-800877-8339 for the hearing impaired, or at www.sba.gov.