GALVESTON, Texas—It’s never a good time for a hurricane to strike, but Ike hit Galveston when the island’s economy was on a roll. 

The economy took a hard punch and now there is a renewed effort to clean up the area and bring back jobs and homes.

Ben Higgins lives at the corner of Avenue L and 62^nd Street.

His home, like many others, was damaged.

“We are trying to salvage the last little bit of stuff we have before they tear it down,” he said.

A few miles away, on the city’s historic Strand, bar owner Pina Ruggieri is trying to save a few pieces of furniture that Hurricane Ike did not destroy.

She owns the Lafitte’s Beat.

“We’re trying to get whatever we can  but you know but we need help,” said Ruggieri.

She estimates it’ll take her five years to rebuild.

Experts say that how Higgins and Ruggieri recover depends on how strong and how quickly the whole city rebuilds itself and its economy.

Galveston’s Economic Development Partnership says it is working to rebuild the island’s economy so that people can have jobs and keep businesses open.

AP Photo

Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed when Hurricane Ike rolled into Galveston.

Higgins doesn’t think Galveston will be the same.

“I don’t think it will come back strong. I think it will come back, but not that strong,” he said.

Jeff Sjostrom who is with The partnership disagrees.

“I think it’s a sign of resiliency of Galveston.  If you look at the rebuilding story after the 1900 storm and if you look at the eras that Galveston has been through, this past decade has really been a coming out period for Galveston,” he said.

Sjostrom says it is important for mom and pop shops, department stores and other businesses to get going again.

He says that the partnership’s priority will be making sure that shore oil businesses and bio-technology firms grow more than ever before.

“These industries are essential because of the high caliber of jobs that are created, because of the tax roles and the investments that come through these jobs that they do. It is important that these catalyst of our community continue moving forward and rebuilding,” said Sjostrom.