Flood Victims Have One Wish For 2001: To Go Home

ROCKY MOUNT — If anyone has a new year's resolution this year, it is the flood victims from the eastern part of the state. Some families spent New Year's Day in the trailers they moved into after Hurricane Floyd totaled their houses.

Vickey Harrell is counting the days until she moves out of her FEMA trailer park. She has been there since October 1999.

"We want to get back into a home like we had before, where each of us has our own space, and we can move around the house like we want to," she says. "The campers, they were convenient for a while but now, it's kind of getting old."

Better times are around the corner. Harrell's grant money is due to arrive later this month. She will be the latest to put the past behind her.

During the busiest time after the storm, more than 330 travel trailers covered one lot north of Rocky Mount. Today, only 20 remain. George Harrison is known by his neighbors at the "mayor" of one of the FEMA village in Rocky Mount. He says people are doing everything they can to get out just as soon as they are able.

"I'm getting ready to rebuild and by the help of God, through God's hand, I'll be back home in Princeville very, very soon," he says.

While most have moved on, that does not necessarily mean they have fully recovered. Many have moved into other state-owned mobile homes in other towns, or with family and friends.