Roughly 75 Percent of Galveston's Homes Are Uninhabitable

GALVESTON, Texas, Sept. 24, 2008 — -- For the first time since Hurricane Ike blew away much of the city, residents of Galveston began streaming home today.

But the city is in such bad shape, those hurrying back home were given an ominous warning: Bring tetanus shots, rat poisoning and don't bring children.

If that's not enough, planes are spraying the city with insecticide to prevent a boom in the mosquito population, the water isn't drinkable and people are urged to wear face masks to guard against inhaling toxic mold that is proliferating in the sweltering city.

Nevertheless, highways into Galveston were jammed with cars today, lines as long as 14 miles long, as many of the city's 57,000 citizens hurried back to see what, if anything, was left of their homes.

What they are finding is heartbreaking.

"People who are off the island don't understand what they're coming home to. They don't," Teresa Castillo, who rode out the storm along with Mary Gonzalez, told "Good Morning America."

Many are coming home to nothing; Walt Burger's house was washed out to sea. While his insurance will cover the house, his land has been swallowed up.

"We were driving the other day and I said I can't look at it. It makes me want to throw up. It's so disturbing," Castillo said.

"Their homes have been flooded. And they have no power, no gas. And it's going to be a long time before they will," City Manager Steve LeBlanc told "GMA."

Most families returned to find small pieces of what their lives had been; thousands found their homes infested with mold and mildew, and their belongings ruined. Others only found pieces of roofs and bathroom tiles.

Roughly 75 percent of Galveston's homes are uninhabitable. There is limited sewage facilities and few medical services. Rats and snakes have infested the city's ruins. And the city is under a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew.

LeBlanc said some hotels in Galveston are reopening and will be available for residents who return and find that their homes are uninhabitable, but he expects those rooms will be quickly snapped up.