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Hurricane Harvey victims recall response to storm as they head to polls

Posted at 4:35 PM, Nov 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-01 16:54:12-04

Hurricane Harvey was a big headline in 2017. A year later, many continue to recover from the storm. They’re also remembering the government’s response, as they head to the polls to cast their ballots in the upcoming midterm election.

“Yes, for the last three and a half years, walking into this house has been very depressing, I would say,” says Houston homeowner Greg Roberts.

It hasn’t been easy for the Roberts, who live in Houston’s Meyerland neighborhood.

"We got flooded out in 2015, 2016, and 2017 with Harvey, as well," Roberts says.

The Roberts haven’t lived in this home since it was first flooded in 2015. Harvey brought in more flood damage.

Now, the couple is raising their home's foundation higher than the levels Harvey's waters reached. 

"If you look up and down the streets of this neighborhood and many others, you will find many others that have been lifted or completely demolished," Roberts says.

Many residents in the area are preparing for the next storm. But the past isn't lost in this election cycle.  

"The topic of flooding and recovery from flooding has not left the public conscious for at least the last three years, probably before, especially the past three and a half years,” Roberts says.

Roberts says it’s a major talking point for politicians in Texas.

After so much flooding, the Roberts say they've already answered another tough question about their future. Why do they stay?

“That's a good question,” Roberts says. “It's a person by person decision; there's no question about that. We love for years. We fought for years to get into this neighborhood. So, we just really love the areas.

"There were a lot of things we really love about this neighborhood, so we stuck it out. We prayed about it thought about it and took all things into consideration."