Some 2,000 CPS Energy customers remain without electricity as of noon Monday, and some may not have power until Tuesday night, CPS Energy Interim CEO Frank Almaraz said during a press conference.
The latest update from the city-owned utility comes after a severe thunderstorm tore through the San Antonio area on Friday evening, cutting off power for 112,000 customers, tens of thousands of whom waited more than 24 hours for it to resume.
Online, residents continue to express frustration about CPS’s disaster response.
“I will say that we have a good track record. We’ve made tremendous progress,” Almaraz said. “I’m very proud of the team and the work they’ve done. They’ve worked safely, and our record is sterling.”
Friday’s storm knocked down trees and utility poles in addition to ripping roofs off structures. At least one 18-wheeler was toppled over.
The most significant damage reportedly occurred on the city’s West Side.
Despite the significant damage, Almaraz told reporters Monday that there’s no evidence that a tornado touched down on Friday. Even amid online criticism of the utility’s response, he maintained things could have been far worse.
“Those momentary outages would have been sustained outages had we not been able to budget out dollars over the years and invest in reclosers and do additional vegetation management and such,” Almaraz said.
In response to criticism about CPS’s response time on Saturday, Almaraz said that vegetation and downed limbs had to be cleared before crews could go in and safely repair damage.
During Monday’s presser, San Antonio Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez said that at least 377 trees were damaged by the storm.
As of press time, several traffic lights remain out within San Antonio city limits. San Antonio Acting Police Chief Jesse Salame Jr. said the department aims to get every traffic light up and running again by Wednesday.
“We’re asking drivers to please slow down, be patient, stay alert and use extra caution,” Salame said. “If a traffic signal is not operating, treat that intersection like a four-way stop. And, as crews continue to work, please try to stay away from those damaged, dangerous areas and allow us to get our work done.”
One person is confirmed dead due to the storm. That person, who has not yet been publicly identified, drowned in San Pedro Creek, Salame said. Police are continuing to investigate another possible drowning at Woodlawn Lake.
Salame said SAPD has increased patrols and visibility in District 1 and District 5 — areas where residents remain without power.
Villagomez added that San Antonio has suspended its citywide bulk collection and is instead prioritizing debris pickup.
On Monday, the city will conduct pickup in the areas hardest hit by the storm, including El Sendero, Oakwell Farms, Valley Forge, Valley Hi, Solana Ridge, Five Points, Monte Vista and Tobin Hill.
Trash and organics pickup will continue as scheduled, Villagomez added.
According to Villagomez, 16 residents and two pets stayed Sunday night in the city’s resilience centers. The centers at Gilbert Garza Park and Community Center, Normoyle Community Center and Northeast Service Center will remain open for now.
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