Town of Princeville
Princeville, North Carolina

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 1999

PRINCEVILLE VOTES TO REBUILD

PRINCEVILLE, NC – Princeville leaders have voted to repair the dike surrounding the town rather than accept federal buyout offers following the devastation of Hurricane Floyd. Meeting last night in regular session at temporary Town Hall in Tarboro, two Princeville Commissioners—Howell and Worsley--voted to rebuild the dike and, therefore, the town while two Commissioners--Johnson and Braswell--voted to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s buyout program. Mayor Delia Perkins cast the deciding vote in favor of rebuilding the town.

The Army Corps of Engineers will repair the dike, which was first constructed by the Corps around 1965.

While the federal government will now not purchase property of residents who want to relocate, Princeville residents will still be eligible for continued important FEMA assistance as part of that agency’s disaster response.

A few Princeville residents have returned to their homes, but most continue to live in temporary housing as almost 90 percent of the residences and businesses in the town were destroyed. Cleanup efforts are continuing.

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