Carbon County has been declared a federal disaster area because of damage from recent flooding, clearing the way for residents to be reimbursed for flood damage and business owners to qualify for low-interest loans, officials announced Monday.

County Emergency Management Director Mark Nalesnik said the disaster designation under the Individual Assistance program was unexpected, because Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had told him the county didn’t have extensive personal property damage.

Nalesnik is urging residents and business owners to report their damage to FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or online at http://www.fema.gov .