The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in Georgia as a result of the excessive rain, high winds and a hail storm that occurred on March 26-28, 2011.

The SBA's disaster declaration includes the following counties: Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Evans, Liberty, Long, Tattnall, Toombs and Wayne.

"When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.