Princeville perseveres, rebuilds after Hurricane Matthew

Princeville has a history of hurricane flooding disaster. After Hurricane Floyd, most thought the worst would never happen again, but Hurricane Mathew once again flooded the town.

But Princeville perseveres, and the community said their goal is to build high and dry.

Nine months after Hurricane Mathew flooded the Edgecombe County town, a wave of rebuilding is washing across the area.

The renovations are not easy, but with muscle and sweat, the town is coming back to life.

"We are supposed to be raising the town hall too, and the library, they are pretty much going to let us raise them on at a time," said Daniel Perry with Elite Structural Movers.

Mennonite Disaster Service has had volunteers in Princeville since the flood water receded.

Flood victim Tamila Knight said the community's response and flood insurance has helped her to rebuild her own

"People that are volunteering, people not getting paid, are helping get these homes back. It shows people really still care out there," Knight said. "It was pretty hard, but the insurance actually paid to get the house rebuilt."​

But more than a hundred people are still displaced, and dozens of homes have not been rebuilt.

Victor Britton has his own flooring company and has been hearing from homeowners ready to rebuild.

"They're going to get their permits and stuff, basically the work is finally getting to cut loose, people are starting to get their FEMA money, they are starting to the get the help they need," Britton said.

Britton said he is working on a home where the water had reached more than 10 feet high.

"Well we get the concrete poured, get the blocks put in, we'll be ready to set it down," Perry said.

Rebuilding of the Town Hall should begin in August.