< Previous30 HARVEY: ONE YEAR LATER29 while being transported to a medical facility in Huntsville.Parts of the skilled nursing facility were only about 100 feet from Mary’s Creek, which left its banks and flooded the building, officials said.While some of the changes could help the community moving forward, for residents such as Maisel, there’s still much work left to do.Maisel’s home, between Stevenson Park and Friend-swood City Park near Cow-art Creek, filled with 6 feet of water during Hurricane Harvey, he said.“It hits you in the gut, seeing something you poured your heart and soul into like this,” Maisel said.The home was insured, but it flooded once before during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and emergency management officials could buy out the home, he said.So, he waits, he said.“If the FEMA buyout doesn’t work, I’ll have to start a GoFundMe page,” he said. “I have insurance, but it’s still going to cost.”Maisel currently splits his living time between a trailer that he purchased on the property and a second home in Huntsville, he said.Maisel spent about $21,500 just cleaning out the home after Harvey hit, he said.Friendswood officials estimate the damage from Harvey to be near $82.7 million citywide.Friendswood officials re-port that Harvey flooded or damaged 2,711 houses to varying degrees. Of those homes, 2,410 were sin-gle-family residences while 301 were in multifamily units, city officials said.Friendswood issued 2,000 building permits after Harvey for repairs and rebuild-ing, city staff said.Of the 2,711 damaged homes, 120 had substantial dam-age, as did three businesses.Officials identified 44 properties as candidates for buy-outs, city staff said. John Maisel stands in a room in his hur-ricane-damaged house in Friendswood. Maisel has not started repairs because he is waiting to see if emergency management officials will offer him a buyout, he said.“IF THE FEMA BUYOUT DOESN’T WORK, I’LL HAVE TO START A GOFUNDME PAGE. I HAVE INSURANCE, BUT IT’S STILL GOING TO COST.” JOHN MAISELTEXAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPERWe have survived through wars, recessions, depressions, floods and hurricanes. We have covered Galveston County since 1842 and continue on today as your local news source. ©2018 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. Follow us on Social MediaInterested in a career in real estate? Try our real estate simulator!goo.gl/wiBry9Next >