San Antonio Storm Infrastructure Woes Addressed by Officials
On Tuesday, September 3, San Antonio experienced heavy rain which led to flooding of highways and inner-city roads, as well as widespread power outages. City officials have stepped forward to address the storm infrastructure concerns that arise during such events.
Flooding: Inescapable Yet Mitigated
Amid the downpour, images of flooded streets and highways emerged from various corners of the city, prompting a significant number of water rescues by the San Antonio Fire Department. Despite this, authorities assured residents that steps are being taken to lessen the impacts of such weather events.
The City of San Antonio spokesperson stated that these flooding incidents are not construction-related. Roadways, he explained, are designed to handle runoff from rain events. While some level of flooding is unavoidable due to the inherently low elevation of curbs aiding water flow towards drainage inlets, efforts are being made to alleviate the issue.
Addressing Runoff on Broadway Street
The city also responded to complaints about excessive runoff on Broadway Street, assuring residents that the ongoing reconstruction project includes drainage improvements. The project is designed to enhance the flow of drainage once the final round of paving is completed later this month.
Dealing with Highways Flooding
San Antonio’s Northeast Side was particularly affected by flooding at the intersection of I-35 and Loop 410. However, a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) spokesperson said that this was due to the intense rainfall within a short duration. TxDOT highlights safety as a priority during such heavy rainfall events, setting up barriers in flooded areas and closing them to traffic until conditions are deemed safe.
In future highway constructions, TxDOT will prioritize drainage during the planning and design phase, ensuring that the newly built or renovated roads can withstand five- to 25-year floods.
Managing Power Outages
Thousands of homes were left without power, with tree limbs damaging power lines being a significant contributor to the problem. CPS Energy, the city’s primary power supplier, is investing heavily in preventive measures to resolve this issue.
Since 2022, CPS Energy has quadrupled its budget for tree trimming to $20.6 million for the next year. It has also trimmed back limbs on roughly 2,698 miles of city roads to enhance reliability and resiliency during extreme weather events.
To further prevent power outages amid storms, there has been a push to move power lines underground. CPS Energy is currently collecting information on this initiative and will provide updates as they become available.
