PRINCEVILLE, NC — Almost every building in this town of 2,000 people was under water after Hurricane Floyd. Today, the tide is turning in Princeville.

"A lot of people had said they weren't coming back," resident Emma Wilkins said. "But I think now a lot of them have changed their minds and see that Princeville is improving. And they've decided to come on back home."

The town is home to new buildings, most in better shape than those that were destroyed.

Linda Staton just moved into her new home a couple of months ago.

"People are moving back here," Staton said. "More houses are going up. It's very exciting. The kids seem to love it over here."

Henry Odeh took a big chance opening his store again, but he said the gamble is paying off.

There is still evidence of the flood, but there is less and less of it.

Not everyone agrees with the town's decision to rebuild on the same land. Some landowners say the town should have opted for the buyout and moved to higher ground.