The Associated Press is reporting that President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for 18 counties in North Carolina after Gov. Beverly Perdue asked the president and to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for help, seeking low-interest loans for farmers, and loans and grants to help others repair their homes and businesses.
The state estimated that the tornadoes damaged or destroyed more than 800 homes. Perdue also said that her office has set up a disaster relief fund that will accept donations.
The tornado that plowed through North Carolina's capital city killed four children, shuttered HBCU Shaw University for the rest of the spring semester and demolished the signature trees in the metropolis known as the "City of Oaks." Students at Shaw University will receive grades based on work completed until the tornado hit last week. The storm killed 45 people in six states, but North Carolina was by far the hardest hit.
Wishing the people of North Carolina and other states affected by the tornado a speedy recovery.
Read more at Yahoo News.
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