RALEIGH -- Gov. Roy Cooper will not appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny North Carolina’s request for individual assistance in areas hit hard by September’s Hurricane Dorian.

Instead, Cooper has asked the Small Business Administration to issue a disaster declaration for Dorian’s impacts in North Carolina, a step that would allow victims to apply for low-interest loans that can be used to make home repairs, replace personal property and repair businesses damaged or destroyed by the storm.

The SBA loans would be part of a state-managed disaster relief program for Dorian’s victims, Cooper’s office announced. Those who either do not qualify for SBA or whose damages are not fully covered by the program would then be able to apply for state-funded individual assistance grants.

In a prepared statement, Cooper said, “I’m asking the SBA for assistance so we can get more state help to Hurricane Dorian survivors as quickly as possible. While it’s disappointing that federal government assistance for this was turned down, we know that North Carolinians should not leave each other behind.”