Storm Recovery and Power Restoration
CPS Energy crews are working through the weekend to restore electricity to tens of thousands of San Antonio residents following severe storms that struck the region on Friday night. As of early Sunday, 47,276 customers remained without power. This figure marks a decline from the peak of 112,000 outages recorded immediately after the weather system passed through Bexar County.
Interim President and CEO Frank Almaraz cautioned that the damage is extensive enough to keep some residents in the dark for several days. The utility company reported 653 active outages and approximately 250 reports of downed power lines. Almaraz advised residents to execute their emergency plans and seek air-conditioned locations as temperatures remain near 98 degrees with heat index values hitting 101.
Impact on Residents and Infrastructure
The storm caused significant physical destruction across San Antonio. The National Weather Service identified straight-line winds as the primary cause, with speeds measured between 50 and 65 mph. Radar estimates and damage patterns suggest some localized gusts reached 75 mph, while San Antonio International Airport recorded a peak wind speed of 77 mph.
Many residents described a chaotic scene during and after the storm. Some encountered blocked roads, fallen trees, and non-functional traffic signals while trying to travel home. At a Taqueria Chapala Jalisco location, business spiked as people gathered to use electricity for charging devices and escaping the heat. Local families faced the additional burden of managing spoiled food from refrigerators that have been without power for over 24 hours.
City Response and Public Resources
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones activated cooling centers and resilience hubs to support the city. These locations provide air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and medical device charging for those in need. Pets are permitted at these sites, and VIA Metropolitan Transit is offering free transport to help residents reach these facilities. City crews are currently clearing public rights-of-way to ensure emergency vehicles and utility workers can access affected neighborhoods.
Residents needing to dispose of storm-related debris can utilize the city’s Brush Collection Center on Wurzbach Parkway, where fees are waived for the weekend. Public officials also encourage property owners to report damage through the state’s iSTAT survey, though they clarified that this process is for assessment purposes and does not replace formal insurance claims. CPS Energy continues to remind the public to treat all downed lines as live and to operate any generators only in well-ventilated outdoor areas.