Port Arthur resident Michael Brown returned to his flooded home for the first time Saturday since Hurricane Harvey slammed the Texas coast Tuesday.

Brown tried to keep his spirits up as he waded through his home looking for keepsakes to retrieve.

An employee of the largest oil refinery in the US - the Motiva - Brown was able to find a positive among the wreckage.

"My family's fine, nobody's hurt. That's the main thing because I think all this material stuff can be replaced."

Port Arthur, Texas - September 2, 2017

1. Various of flooding victim Michael Brown riding in a boat back to his home

2. Brown about to enter his flooded home

3. SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Brown, flooding victim

"This is, it's hard to put into words, very emotional to see your place like this, you know, that you worked so hard for. It's just, I'm kind of numb to tell you the truth."

4. Brown walking through his flooded home

5. SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Brown, flooding victim

"I'll be glad to get in here, get a couple of things. But it, it keeps you up at night. Makes you have bad dreams. Sometimes it tries to pull you down in to that old hopeless state but I mean you can't give up."

6. Brown looking through possessions floating in his home

7. SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Brown, flooding victim

"My insurance, I'm having enough problems with. I don't understand it."

8. Brown finding his wife's engagement ring floating in a jewelry box

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Brown, flooding victim

"I'm glad that I've got family here. My family's fine, nobody's hurt. That's the main thing because I think all this material stuff can be replaced. It's just emotional."

10. Brown riding over the flood waters of his neighbourhood

Port Arthur resident Michael Brown, a Motiva Refinery employee, returned to his flooded home for the first time Saturday since Harvey slammed the coast Tuesday.

Brown tried to keep his spirits up but he became emotional as he waded through his home looking for keepsakes to retrieve.

Post Arthur, Texas - Sept. 2, 2017

1. Various of flooding victim Michael Brown riding in on a boat back to his home

2. Setup shot of Brown about to enter his flooded home

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"This is, it's hard to put into word, very emotional to see your place like this, you know, that you worked so hard for. It's just, I'm kind of numb to tell you the truth."

4. Various of Michael Brown walking thru his flooded home

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"I'll be glad to get in here, get a couple of things but it's, it keeps you up at night. Makes you have bad dreams. Sometimes it tries to pull you down in to that old hopeless state but I mean you can't give up."

6. Various of Michael Brown looking through possessions floating in his home

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"My insurance, I'm having enough problems with. I don't understand it."

8. Various of Michael Brown finding his wife's engagement ring floating in a jewelry box.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"I'm glad that I've got family here. My family's fine, nobody's hurt. That's the main thing because I think all this material stuff can be replaced. It's just emotional."

10. Michael Brown riding over the flood waters of his neighborhood.

Port Arthur resident Michael Brown, a Motiva Refinery employee, returned to his flooded home for the first time Saturday since Harvey slammed the coast Tuesday.

Brown tried to keep his spirits up but he became emotional as he waded through his home looking for keepsakes to retrieve.

Post Arthur, Texas - Sept. 2, 2017

1. Various of flooding victim Michael Brown riding in on a boat back to his home

2. Setup shot of Brown about to enter his flooded home

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"This is, it's hard to put into word, very emotional to see your place like this, you know, that you worked so hard for. It's just, I'm kind of numb to tell you the truth."

4. Various of Michael Brown walking thru his flooded home

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"I'll be glad to get in here, get a couple of things but it's, it keeps you up at night. Makes you have bad dreams. Sometimes it tries to pull you down in to that old hopeless state but I mean you can't give up."

6. Various of Michael Brown looking through possessions floating in his home

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"My insurance, I'm having enough problems with. I don't understand it."

8. Various of Michael Brown finding his wife's engagement ring floating in a jewelry box.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Brown, flooding victim:

"I'm glad that I've got family here. My family's fine, nobody's hurt. That's the main thing because I think all this material stuff can be replaced. It's just emotional."

10. Michael Brown riding over the flood waters of his neighborhood.