INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana is seeking low-interest federal loans for three counties hit by tornadoes and other severe weather that swept the state in mid-November.

The Department of Homeland Security says Gov. Mike Pence has asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to approve disaster loan status for Daviess, Fountain and Howard counties.

The state's move comes after the Federal Emergency Management Agency last month rejected Indiana's bid for federal aid for several counties struck by the Nov. 17 storms.

If the request is approved, residents, businesses and some nonprofit groups in 16 contiguous counties also affected by the storms would also qualify for the low-interest disaster loans.

Those additional counties are: Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Dubois, Grant, Greene, Knox, Martin, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pike, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion and Warren counties.