Hurricane Season Is Here. Legacy Is Ready to Help

Hurricane season is here, and for many Houstonians, the impact of last year’s storms still feels painfully fresh. Hurricane Beryl made landfall on July 8, 2024, as a Category 1 hurricane, producing life-threatening floods across the city.

Just weeks earlier, the Houston Derecho tore through the region with powerful winds that left residents without power and caused widespread property damage. Those back-to-back storms showed just how fragile our infrastructure is – and how much harder disasters hit some communities than others.

At Legacy Community Health, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating toll natural disasters take on our patients and neighbors, from children to seniors. That’s why, even when our own clinics experienced power outages, we prioritized our mission to serve. For many, these weather events were a breaking point in a system already stretched too thin.

Boots on the Ground, Heart in the Work

After Beryl struck, Legacy’s Health Connect team, AmeriCorps members, and Facilities staff quickly mobilized to meet urgent needs. At our Santa Clara location, the Food for Change Market distribution on July 18 served over 175 households with fresh food, hygiene kits, sunscreen, bug repellent, and oral rehydration salts, many donated by the International Medical Corps. Remaining supplies were given to staff, volunteers, and local residents, ensuring no resource went unused.

Just days later, on July 23, our Health Connect team continued distribution efforts at the Lyons Clinic Mobile Market, working alongside the Houston Food Bank to make sure no one was turned away, even those not enrolled in the FoodRx program.

Legacy was also proud to welcome 45 student volunteers from Rice University’s Civic Immersion Summer Fellowship, who helped streamline market operations and supported cleanup efforts. Their presence was a powerful example of what happens when public service and community care come together.

In addition, a generous donor company provided canned food and hurricane bags that were distributed post-Beryl at several clinics, including Legacy Southwest (LSW), Legacy Santa Clara (LSC), and Legacy Montrose Clinic (LMC), during patient appointments.

Why Disaster Response Is Health Care

Hurricane Beryl wasn’t the strongest hurricane to hit Texas, but the combined impact of extreme heat, flooding, poor air quality, and extended power outages revealed serious weaknesses in our disaster preparedness, especially for vulnerable communities.

The aftermath led to a public health emergency, with risks from chemical leaks, limited access to medications, food insecurity, and worsening chronic health conditions. Even as power outages challenged the city, Legacy remained open and ready to serve as highlighted in a piece on CW39.

According to Manish Pandya, Vice President of Operations at Legacy Community Health, the organization has made significant investments in clinic resilience. “Many of our clinics now have permanent generators, and we have mobile generators on standby that can be deployed rapidly if needed,” she explained. “We also monitor hyperlocal weather conditions near each clinic to help us make real-time decisions about where and how we can safely continue patient care.”

Legacy has also standardized its approach across all locations. “We’ve enhanced our Emergency Action Plan and now use the Incident Command System (ICS),” said Manish. “ICS allows us to organize and coordinate our storm response across departments and with outside agencies like the City of Houston and Harris County Office of Emergency Management.”

These efforts are designed to prevent disruptions and maintain clinical services before, during, and after a storm.

Supporting The Most Vulnerable Patients

“Our Care Management team plays a crucial role during disasters,” said Manish. “From our social workers and patient educators to Health Navigation and Nutrition & Fitness teams, we stay in contact with patients and ensure previously scheduled services continue whenever possible – whether through in-person visits at open clinics or via telehealth.”

During the aftermath of Beryl, department leads compiled a shared resource list that included local services such as cooling centers, shelter information, food distribution, and 3-1-1 support. “That type of collaboration is always present at Legacy,” Manish added, “but it really comes to the forefront in times of crisis.”

For patients managing chronic conditions such as HIV, hypertension, or diabetes, early refills are encouraged before a storm. “We urge patients to fill medications ahead of time, especially essential prescriptions like PrEP or insulin,” said Manish.

In preparation for hurricane season, the Legacy Pharmacy team launched a new initiative in May: waterproof medication storage bags. These durable bags were distributed—especially to those enrolled in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)—to help protect vital medications during floods or emergency evacuations.

Features of the bag include:

• Heavy-duty waterproof PVC material
• Roll-top, buckle-sealed closure
  Shoulder straps for portability
• Large, clear “MEDICATIONS” label
• Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) logo as a reminder of state support

Manish also emphasized that care isn’t limited to those with internet access. “Patients can still be seen over the phone for certain services, even if they don’t have video capabilities,” she noted. “We adjust quickly – relocating staff to operational sites and maintaining continuity for those who need us most.”

Staff support is another major priority. “We created the Legacy Employee Assistance Fund (LEAF) to help team members personally impacted by storms,” Manish said. “We know they’re supporting our patients during these times, and we want to support them too.”

A Forecast for Action

Hurricane researchers at Colorado State University predict this year’s season will be above average, with 17 named storms and at least nine becoming hurricanes. The time to prepare is now, and Legacy is doing just that.

Legacy continues to strengthen its FoodRx program in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, providing access to nutritious food at our Fifth Ward, Santa Clara, Southwest, Northline, Northside Irvington and Gulfton Dashwood clinics. Patients referred by their provider and screened for food insecurity can receive up to 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables, plus four healthy grocery items, twice a month.

Ready When You Need Us Most

As Southeast Texas braces for another unpredictable season, Legacy remains committed to our role as a trusted health care home. Clinics in Fifth Ward, Southwest, Northline, and beyond will continue to provide care, compassion, and essential resources to those who need it most.

“Disaster preparedness is health care,” said Manish. “It’s part of how we protect our patients, our staff, and our mission.”

Stay safe. Stay prepared. Stay connected.

Follow us on social media, bookmark our website, or sign up for MyChart to receive real-time updates about clinic closures, openings, and emergency weather alerts.

Legacy Community Health is here—no matter the weather.