SBA centers shutting down after Irene

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Residents of eastern North Carolina affected by Hurricane Irene don't have much time left to visit one of the temporary Small Business Administration disaster centers.

The SBA says it's closing the centers at 5 p.m. on Friday, although victims of the Category 1 storm can still seek help by calling the agency or going online.

The centers were set up to help people apply for low-interest disaster loans. They're located in Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico and Dare counties.

A completed SBA loan application is necessary to be considered for some types of federal aid.

In the weeks since Irene tore through eastern North Carolina on its way up the coast, the SBA has given out nearly $35 million in low-interest disaster loans.