Three members of North Carolina's congressional delegation are asking for federal aid to help families rebuild their homes and lives after last weekend's fatal tornadoes.

Democratic Reps. Bob Etheridge and G. K. Butterfield, and Republican Rep. Walter Jones wrote Thursday to the U.S. Small Business Administration. They're asking that the agency provide low-interest federal loans to those affected by the storm.

The tornadoes killed two people early Saturday morning in counties east of Raleigh. Officials said the storm damaged or destroyed 59 homes and six businesses. The lawmakers said most of the homes were either uninsured or underinsured.

Gov. Mike Easley has requested that the Small Business Administration declare Johnston and Wilson counties as federal disaster areas.