GOLDSBORO — Some residents living in a flood-prone area ofWayne Countythought they would find relief in a home buyout program. Forty-six people applied, and all but one were rejected.

Joseph Blue's neighborhood is turning into a ghost town. Two-thirds of the families in his sub-division are abandoning their houses and moving to higher ground.

"I'm out of here. I never stay here by myself. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I could have done and leave it for my children, but what can you say?" said Blue.

People are leaving to escape flooding.Hurricane Franwrecked the neighborhood in 1996. The federal government is footing the bill so that people will move out of the low-lying area.

The same money is not available for 14 other homeowners in the same neighborhood. They did not jump the first time the buyout was offered.

When they applied later, the government denied their applications.

Homeowner Christine Smith will be left behind after the homes of seven neighbors are destroyed.

"What I'm worried about is that all the houses in front me are going to be gone, and it'll grow up in woods. There are already things coming out that I've never seen before," said Smith.

Now that the exodus has started, homeowners say it is almost impossible to sell their property.

TheCity of Goldsborois appealing for the homeowners and trying to move them out before the next flood moves in.

"I truly believe in the long run they are going to come back and realize that our neighborhood has truly gone down. I think they are going to help us out," said homeowner Tammy Faison.

If homeowners do get help, it will probably come from the city of Goldsboro.