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Hurricane Harvey

Seniors Withstand Flood’s Aftermath With Help Of Volunteers

Residents of the high rise senior living facility 2100 Memorial had three days without running water.

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  • Volunteers get together donated food to take to the residents at 2100 Memorial. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
    Volunteers get together donated food to take to the residents at 2100 Memorial. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
  • Bottled water stacked in the parking garage at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
    Bottled water stacked in the parking garage at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
  • Some of the supplies volunteers gathered at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
    Some of the supplies volunteers gathered at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
  • Volunteers coordinate the ongoing efforts at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
    Volunteers coordinate the ongoing efforts at 2100 Memorial (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
  • Affordable senior housing facility 2100 Memorial suffered damage from flooding during Harvey and has to be rebuilt. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin / Houston Public Media)
    Affordable senior housing facility 2100 Memorial suffered damage from flooding during Harvey and has to be rebuilt. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin / Houston Public Media)
  • Cars that were parked in the lower levels at 2100 Memorial were flooded on the weekend. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)
    Cars that were parked in the lower levels at 2100 Memorial were flooded on the weekend. (Photo Credit: Florian Martin | Houston Public Media)

A previous version of this story erroneously referred to 2100 Memorial as assisted living.

Dozens of volunteers were walking the 14 floors at 2100 Memorial Drive, checking on residents and supplying them with food, water or medical needs.

The former Holiday Inn started flooding on Saturday night when Buffalo Bayou went over its banks. It got about five feet of water on the first floor.

Fortunately, the residents' rooms start on the second level.

Dana Tucker with Lynd, the company that manages 2100 Memorial, said one of the biggest challenges was that the water got shut off when flooding caused a short in the downstairs equipment.

"We've been running hoses and taking water up to people over 14 flights multiple times a day as needed," he said, "to flush toilets, drinking water, all those things."

He said the community response has been great, with the Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association leading the effort, bringing in water and other supplies.

About 20 residents evacuated to the George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday. The rest of the 190 seniors stayed put – despite not being able to take showers for days.

But 72-year-old Laverne Springer said other Houstonians have it much worse.

"Now we're blessed in this building," she said.

And by mid-day Wednesday, the water came back on.