Residents return home for the first time since Harvey

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Walking through yard after yard, residents were finally starting to be able to return to their homes near the intersection of North Eldridge Parkway and Memorial Drive in the Energy Corridor District.

For Julaine Barnes, it's the first time in more than 10 days that she's seen her place on Memorial Mews Street. She was able to evacuate from the home with her car and two dogs, but was grateful to be able to check up on her place that faced Terry Hershey Park.

"I can see that it is up there but it's not total -- I still have my pictures," says Barnes, who is grateful that not everything on her first floor was ruined.

A few streets down from Barnes, residents had already started moving debris off the streets with others hoping to soon.

"I mean, it's filled with mud and mold and everything," says Jeffery Kolb. "it's a single story, so we would like to get it cleaned out so hopefully they will let us in tomorrow to start cleaning it."  

"We will do okay though, you know, like everyone says, everybody is strong and they are going to work together and that is the most important thing," says Jeffery's wife Mary Jane Kolb. An encouraging message amid a somewhat chaotic life for those just returning to their homes.

"This gives me hope," commented Barnes upon viewing her home. "I haven't had hope for two freaking weeks and I've been so depressed, I've not been able to smile, but I can now, I really can."