Teamwork evident at Eagle’s Trace during Harvey

On the evening of Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey — a category 4 storm with 130 mph winds — made landfall near Corpus Christi. The predictions of unprecedented flooding and wind damage for southeast Texas were immediately dire, but preparations had begun in earnest at Eagle’s Trace a week earlier.

“Upon hearing initial forecasts, we communicated the urgency of the situation with our residents, local employees and corporate partners,” said Steve Aigner, executive director of the Erickson Living retirement community located in west Houston. “We enacted our hurricane preparedness plan, contacted vendors, monitored official government reports and created a staffing schedule.”

Throughout six days of torrential bands of rain, Eagle’s Trace experienced neither flooding nor major infrastructure damage, power was never lost, and communications systems remained intact. Ride-out and recovery teams of employees, some from sister Erickson Living communities in Dallas and beyond, cared for residents and each other.

“The partnership with residents, the resolve of staff members, thoughtful preparedness on the front end, and ongoing connection with our corporate partners and local officials were key factors during Harvey,” Aigner said.

This collaboration manifested itself in many ways. The Resident Emergency Assistance Team (REAT), a volunteer team of residents, helped distribute key pieces of communication prepared in conjunction with telephonic messages and daily updates. To assist with dining, more than 100 residents rolled up their sleeves and

helped with various aspects of the daily buffet service.

“We didn’t miss a beat,” said Judy Doba, who moved to Eagle’s Trace in 2014 with her husband, Ray. “We were safe and dry, we had food, and we had necessary services right here on campus.”

To ensure residents’ well-being, the employee ride-out team stayed several nights at the community, sleeping on cots and couches. As the rain eventually subsided throughout Houston and travel conditions improved, more employees found a way to Eagle’ s Trace.

“We appreciate the effort of every single employee,” said Aigner. “They made caring for our residents a priority, even though many faced substantial personal impact from Hurricane Harvey.”

In fact, to assist Eagle’s Trace staff members and their families through the recovery process, Erickson Living established the Eagle’s Trace Employee Relief Fund, which opened with a $2,000,000 donation.

Hurricane Harvey will be remembered for generations. But so will the spirit displayed at Eagle’s Trace.

“In countless ways, Eagle’s Trace exhibited unity, strength and compassion,” said Aigner.

“As part of a greater community, we will always be there for each other. Eagle’s Trace is proud to be Houston Strong.”