SAN ANTONIO – Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said she hopes the city can apply for state assistance after Friday’s storms damaged property and initially left as many as 100,000 people without power.
Jones mentioned the City of San Antonio’s potential to receive state resources to help assess damage during Monday morning’s news conference.
“Once you have a certain threshold of damage in the community, you’ll be able to receive that,” Jones said.
Deputy City Manager María Villagómez doesn’t think the city will reach that mark.
“We will have to prove the total damage to the local government, in this case, is about $9.6 million,” Villagómez said “We don’t think we’re going to reach that threshold.”
However, Villagómez said they are continuing to collect data and see if there is an opportunity to receive state assistance.
Restoration efforts
Crews continue to respond to damages trees, stop lights, buildings and homes affected by last Friday’s severe weather.
CPS Energy interim CEO Frank Almaraz expects to make significant progress in power restorations by Tuesday night.
As of 1:13 p.m. Monday, more than 1,500 CPS Energy customers (1,551) remain without electricity.
Those experiencing power outages are urged to visit overnight resilience hubs:
- Garza Community Center — 1450 Mira Vista
- Normoyle Community Center — 700 Culberson Ave.
- Northeast Senior Center — 4135 Thousand Oaks
More cooling locations, include city libraries and community centers, which operate at regular business hours.
On Monday, the San Antonio Food Bank has six locations operating as a emergency storm distributions center:
- 8-10 a.m. at Cassiano Park (1728 Potosi St.)
- 9-11 a.m. at Elmendorf Lake Park (3700 W. Commerce St.)
- 9-11 a.m. at Rosedale Park (303 Dartmouth St.)
- 1-3 p.m. at JT Brackenridge Elementary School, 1214 Guadalupe St.
- 1-3 p.m. at Millers Pond Park (6175 Old Pearsall Rd.)
The food bank’s headquarters, located at 5200 Historic Old Hwy. 90, will operate as a emergency storm distribution center this week between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
More than 100,000 people experienced a serious power outage — some went without electricity for more than two days. Almaraz said the utility crews worked overnight to bring back energy to thousands of homes.
Almaraz said a CPS Energy employee was struck by a vehicle Monday morning while working to restore power. The employee sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Damage recovery
Two people were found dead over the weekend after they were swept away by rapid waters on Aug. 28, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
SAPD found the body of Jenifer Leigh Hillard, 46, Saturday night in the 500 block of West Quincy Street, according to a preliminary police report. The medical examiner’s office ruled her death a drowning.
Hillard was swept several blocks downstream with her husband, according to SAPD Acting Chief Jesse Salame. The man was recovered from the water and did not suffer any apparent injures.
On Sunday, police said a park visitor saw a male floating in Woodlawn Lake and called 911. SAPD said officers responded around 8 a.m. and recovered the unidentified male, who was pronounced dead.
Both deaths are being investigated in connection to Friday’s severe weather, SAPD said.
A significant number of city property was damaged by the storm.
Two buildings just outside downtown are expected to be demolished as a result of the storm, a City of San Antonio spokesperson said in an email Monday.
Properties at 523 N. Colorado St. and 523 W. Cypress St. will be leveled. The spokesperson did not specify how soon city demolition crews will respond.
Additionally, at least 377 trees were impacted by the storm. Villagómez said most have already been removed.
A “significant” number of traffic lights were also damaged. Villagómez believes all lights will be functionable by Wednesday.
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