Bexar County says flood control projects working

County nearing end of 10-year, $500 million program

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County said its flood control projects held up "excellent" in Monday's rain storm.

The county is in the midst of its Bexar County Flood Control Program, a 10-year, $500 million program to improve public safety and keep rainwater from overwhelming roads and property. According to the county, 33 projects are already completed, 17 are under construction, another 17 are in design and 16 aren't recommended for construction. It’s scheduled to end in fiscal year 2017.

"You're never going to stop rain," County Public Works Director Renee Green said. "You're never going to stop water draining into the area. But these flood control projects have made it much more safe for the public."

As rain-swollen waters flowed Monday, they rushed under Bulverde Road, a roadway, the county, said is now out of the 100-year floodplain. The county finished its flood control work there in September.

Neighbors though didn't seem to worry about the road flooding before.

Click here to view all projects in Bexar County.

"It wasn't too bad, but you would have water running. So it's much nicer now," nearby resident Christine Magee said of the previous conditions.

Kathryn Arbaugh said it didn't used to "totally" flood over the road, "but I'm also one of those drivers who tends not to drive out when it's horrible."

Green said the county went out to 18 of the completed projects during Monday's rains to assess how they were doing. She said they held up "excellent."

"We've done this three or four times during significant rain events," Green said. "And I'm happy to say we've gotten very good results from all the projects that have been completed."

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There's more work to be done. One of the 17 ongoing projects is at Classen Road, which should make water go under the road rather than over.

"It was really bad," said Edmundo Rios, who lives nearby. "It was a lot of flood, and a lot of cars just went into that. It was like a river."

The last time his neighbor, Yolanda Kroth, tried to cross it when it flooded, water came halfway up her door.

"Yeah, I was kind of like worried," she said. "I was like, uh oh, maybe I shouldn't have come across through here."

Hopefully, the project should take care of that, and the next time she crosses in the rain, "I'll be able to be like no problem," Kroth said.

Click the map below for an interactive view of Bexar County's flood projects.


About the Author:

Garrett Brnger is a reporter with KSAT 12.