Michelle Gaitan

Gannett

BAYSIDE, Texas — The residents of Bayside and the other small Texas towns hit by Hurricane Harvey are showing resilience and perseverance as they return home, knowing they face a long road of rebuilding.

A gentle breeze and a sparsely cloudy sky Tuesday gave Bayside residents a chance to examine the damage left behind from the storm.

About 80% of Bayside is destroyed, and it will be about two to three weeks before the electricity will be restored to the small community of about 300 people, said Karen Clark, assistant city secretary and municipal clerk.

A quarter of the town's residents rode out the hurricane in their homes, and despite the storm's fury, no deaths or injuries were reported.

More:Hurricane Harvey price gouging a concern in Texas

More:'GET OUT NOW': Levee breached near Houston in Hurricane Harvey aftermath

More:350 alligators could escape flooded Gator Farm near Houston

The home of Joe Collins made it through Harvey with only a few missing shingles, a damaged shed he said was not in very good condition before the storm and a knocked-down tree in his front yard.

“My house is going to make it,” he said. “The good Lord put out his hand over (my house). I am still here. Others are not so lucky.”

Returning home for the first time Tuesday, Howard Hoffman broke through the thin boards nailed over his windows and doors.

Hoffman had been working in New Mexico as Harvey approached, so he relied on his brother to board up the home before the storm struck.

Despite his brother's efforts, rain leaked through the roof, seeping into everything, and the stench of mildew filled Hoffman's house.

“I lost my first one in a hurricane and I’ve lost my last one in a hurricane,” Hoffman said as he picked through the remains.

A single wooden rocking chair was the only thing he salvaged. Hoffman, like many residents, does not have insurance.

Aside from his home, Hoffman lost a large shed on his property he used as a game room — part of the wall was missing and his personal belongings were scattered around.

“There’s nothing but a mess,” he said entering the shed through the hole the wind made when it tore away metal panels that once formed walls.

In the town's city hall and community center, donations from Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Kingsville were gathered and volunteers handed out food and water.

On Monday, AT&T phone service was restored and port-a-potties were delivered, Clark said.

“If we wake up every day to something new, it’s wonderful,” she said. “The people of Bayside are wonderful.”

Other communities have their own issues

Residents of Refugio and Woodsboro are dealing with their own troubles.

In comparison to Bayside, structural damage was minimal, but uprooted trees, extensive roof damage, downed power lines, and in some cases, water damage inside homes await attention.

Sinton and Taft also suffered minor damage to their communities, most visibly wrecked trees and downed power lines.

A few personal belongings and some clothing were all Woodsboro resident Dean Weitzel said he could save.

Weiztel and his son had spent their time rummaging through belongings since returning home Monday.

“I don’t know what the insurance will do,” he said, surveying his property. “Can’t live like this. I’ve lived in Refugio (County) all my life.”

Cellphone service had been turned on for residents, but some were still without water and power Tuesday.

Crews from AEP Texas and other companies were seen driving around town and working on power lines, but electricity likely will not be fully restored for several weeks.

In Woodsboro, volunteers set up in front of Washington Memorial Veterans Park to hand out bottled water and food.

Rose Martinez, who is part of Pokey’s Badd Company Cooks with two other local vendors, served free meals.

“People always buy food from us; they love our food and so we decided to give it away,” Martinez said. “We’ll be here as long as we have to.”

The same spirit of serving others in need was seen in Refugio, where volunteers from a church in Runge, about 50 miles away, drove through neighborhoods offering bottled water, canned food and clean clothing.

Victoria resident Judith Robinson was sitting on her daughter’s front steps with friends when the trucks pulled up offering help.

Robinson said she stayed with her daughter and 92-year-old father in Refugio to escape the hurricane, but it followed her there.

“It was terrible; I was so scared,” she said, describing the sound of the wind like the rumbling of a train. “I prayed all night. I thought I was going to die.”

Follow Michelle Gaitan on Twitter: @shellegaitan