&lt;img src=&#039;http://assets.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/aaaRealEstate_Logo.jpg?v=1&#039;&gt;Businesses in Essex County hit by the recent flash floods will be eligible for help form the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state&#039;s two U.S. senator and U.S. Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem) said Friday.

They announced the assistance in a letter thanking U.S. Small Business Administration Director Frank Skaggs for declaring the flooding a disaster. Businesses were especially hard hit in Peabody, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem and Beverly.

In a letter seeking the designation, U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown, and Tierney, wrote: &ldquo;The availability of low interest loans to homes and businesses affected by the flooding would be of immense support to citizens and businesses in Massachusetts who are in need of assistance...