on high ground so he'd been safe. now he was back in the town where he lives to witness the devastation firsthand. starting with a visit to his apartment, a five-minute walk. >> how worried are you that your apartment's like that? >> i don't -- from looking at this, i don't think it's going to be -- i think it'll be fine, really. >> reporter: but we're stopped by a street full of mud, debris, and water, we can't get through. >> what do you think? >> i'm wondering if we can go around. >> you could try. >> reporter: at every turn, the road is impassable. >> your parents must be frantically thinking about you. >> yeah. >> reporter: we find away across glass and splinters and beams. but again, we can't get through. he's so close, but so far, and the closer we get, the more anxious paul gets. suddenly out of the blue -- >> hey. how are you? how are you?