SPEED — With so many towns recovering from damage left behind by Hurricane Floyd, federal relief agencies are having trouble getting to them all.

That is the case in the Edgecombe County town of Speed, where federal relief teams have been anything but speedy.

Residents got their first chance to meet withFEMArepresentatives Thursday evening -- three weeks after Hurricane Floyd hit.

Ninety percent of the town, which is home to 200 residents, was under water.

Some residents say they want FEMA to offer grants instead of loans that have to be repaid.

Many residents say they they cannot afford federal loans, even at a low interest rate. They are hoping that their meeting with FEMA will make grant money easier to get.