ROCKY MOUNT — For many of Hurricane Floyd's victims, the task of recovery is still ahead of them. Some Rocky Mount homes are just now being torn down -- 16 months after the flood.

The first house involved in the FEMA buyout program was torn down Friday. It was the first of more than 500 homes that will be torn down in Rocky Mount alone.

"We're moving progressively, steadily and I think we're making great progress," says Steve Raper, Rocky Mount's city manager. He says about 80 houses will be ready to come down in the next few months.

The buyout is moving along smoothly, although it took a long time to begin. The extent of the damage in Rocky Mount slowed down the process, which is the largest city buyout program in the history of FEMA.