Five New Jersey counties that have not received federal assistance for storm damage are reassessing the toll the March 13 deluge took on their communities in the hopes they will qualify for financial aid. Federal, state and local emergency management officials were scheduled to tour Ocean, Camden, Burlington, Cumberland and Hunterdon counties today and Tuesday to view the aftermath of flooding and recovery efforts. Earlier this month, 12 of New Jersey’s 21 counties were declared disaster areas, making them eligible for federal funding and by last week disaster recovery centers had opened in each of the affected counties for residents and business owners to apply for aid. Other counties also suffered damages, but had not reached the monetary threshold necessary to qualify for federal aid.

“Sometimes new information on disaster damages comes to light and needs to be evaluated,” said William L. Vogel, a coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We commend our state partners for continuing their damage assessment efforts and requesting our assistance in evaluating these new areas to determine if they warrant federal assistance. We will continue to work closely as a team with other state and local partners.”

Lt. James Manley, deputy emergency management coordinator for Ocean County, said many communities didn’t bother conducting damage assessments because they suffered only minor damage after the March 13 storm or erroneously believed certain clean-up expenses would not qualify for aid.

Money spent for preventative measures, such as sandbagging, and cleanup, such as tree removal, qualifies for reimbursement.

“We try to do everything we can to get everybody included,” Manley said. “It’s a shame when people can’t get the aid they need.”

FEMA spokesman Alberto Pillot said 7,238 people have registered so far for federal assistance and $8.2 million had been approved as of Saturday, the latest statistics available.

Nearly every resident and business owner who registers through FEMA is encouraged to apply for a loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration, but the application process is moving slowly, SBA spokeswoman Erica Hyland said .

Hyland said many homeowners and tenants mistakenly believe they are not eligible for SBA loans and soon learn that failure to submit an SBA application can delay the FEMA application process.

SBA loans, with interest rates as low as 2.625 percent, are for homeowners, renters and business owners. If approved for a loan, applicants have 60 days to decide whether to accept it, so they can turn it down if they find another financial stream, Hyland said.

‘‘In many cases, SBA may be the final option as far as funding for the disaster victims to get their homes back in order,’’ Hyland said.

So far, the SBA has issued 6,299 applications but only received 246, she said. It has approved 10 applications totaling $211,400, she said. Star Ledger