Governor Mike Easley today surveyed tornado damage in Bertie County as teams looked at whether homeowners could be eligible for low interest loans to rebuild.

The governor took an aerial tour and then met privately with local and county officials. Easley says 47 homes in the Lewiston-Woodville area were damaged by the Sunday evening storm. Sixteen of those homes were destroyed, another three received major damage, while 28 sustained minor damage.

The governor says 13 of the 16 homes destroyed did not have insurance.

Easley says six people were injured when the EF-02 tornado ripped through the area around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. One of those, a high school senior, is still hospitalized at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

A shelter has been set up by the American Red Cross. Residents can go to the Mount Olive Baptist Church, 102 Mount Olive Road in Windsor for food, water, counseling and to find out more about applying for financial assistance.

WITN News will have more on the governor's visit tonight at 5 & 6 p.m.