RALEIGH Gov. Bev Perdue is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide low-interest loans to residents of Burke and Rutherford counties who suffered losses from last week's tornadoes.

Perdue said in a statement that she hopes to hear from the SBA early this week.

"We will aggressively pursue any available assistance for those who suffered losses in the tornadoes and need help rebuilding or repairing their homes and businesses," Perdue stated.

SBA loans provide up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair and/or replace damaged property.

Homeowners and renters also would be eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property.

Damage assessment teams from North Carolina Emergency Management and the SBA were surveying losses on Friday.

Severe storms and tornadoes rumbled through Western North Carolina Wednesday.

In Burke County, 16 homes were destroyed, and 50 more suffered some measure of damage.

No fatalities were reported in the immediate aftermath of the rare January twister outbreak, although 15 people were injured.

The Burke County twister carried 130 mph winds, while a tornado near Ellenboro in Rutherford County packed winds of 115 mph.

The National Weather Service had surveyed damage in the two counties on Thursday and had detailed what types of tornadoes had rampaged through the area.

Many residents affected by the storms said they had little warning before they struck.

People who were displaced by the tornadoes were able to use emergency shelters in Bostic, Rutherford County, and in Icard, Burke County, that were operated by the American Red Cross.

A weather specialist at the Weather Channel said there is no record of a January tornado striking either county.