CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — It's been nearly a month since an EF1 tornado touched down in Catawba County, destroying homes and killing one man. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration is taking to steps to help residents and businesses repair the damage. 

The SBA is making low-interest disaster loans available to residents and businesses affected by the Jan. 9 storms and tornado. 

Eligible counties include Catawba, Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Iredell and Lincoln. 

An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be set up at the Catawba County Emergency Services to help families apply. 

"Loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, and homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property," according to a press release from the SBA. 

Interest rates for businesses are as low as 4%, 3.25% for nonprofits and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years, according to the release. 

SBA public affairs specialist Jim Accurso is encouraging residents to stop by and get their questions answered so they can get the assistance they need. 

"We travel the country, so we do understand that folks have had setbacks like this," Accurso said. "We want to be able to help them get back up on their feet."

"We hope to get any funds awarded to you within 3-4 weeks, if all of your paperwork is in order," he said.

He says that applicants have up to six months to decide whether to accept a loan once it's approved.

"Folks may think they're not eligible, so we encourage you to come in and meet with us," he said. "If [you] do apply for the loan, there's no fee to apply. There's no obligation to take the loan if you are awarded it."

Tammy Yates' residence and property in Catawba County were severely damaged by the tornado. 

"We lost a lot, [including] seven buildings," she said. "We've been having to cut trees up for days now." 

Yates says it's been challenging trying to manage the conditions caused by the tornado. 

"We've had no power or water for three weeks," she said. "I need power and water. This is awful. It's been three weeks since we took showers. Last night I was [searching] for water for my animals." 

Yates says the repairs will be costly, but she's unsure whether applying for a loan is the best decision for her. 

"What's it going to cost in the long run for me to go get a loan and have to pay it back?" Yates said. "We live day to day as it is anyways. I don't know yet." 

Yates says her immediate focus is on the cleanup. 

One of those helping neighbors is Bobbie Dugger. 

Dugger calls Yates both family and friend. 

Dugger is helping Yates and other neighbors with repairs.

"Helping people get their lives back together," Dugger said. "We got a lot of work still to do. I'd like to see [everyone] get new homes. It's bad. They need help." 

"I wouldn't wish this on a worse enemy," Yates said. "Nobody sees how hard we have to work morning until night. I was out here until 3 in the morning. What are we going to do now, do we start over? Do we always start over? Because I get tired of starting over."

The Loan Outreach Center will be available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays. The center will be at Catawba County Emergency Services until Feb. 20.

The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is April 1. 

Accurso says the deadline for businesses to apply for economic injury loans is August.