Tag: Texas Heat

‘We are trying to survive.’ | More than 50,000 San Antonio residents still without power amid Texas heat

Posted on by Leave a comment

More than 50,000 residents remained without electricity Saturday Night as crews worked around the clock to restore power following extensive damage from strong winds and falling trees. For residents who have been without power since Friday night, the outage has made enduring the Texas heat especially difficult. “We’re suffering. We’re trying to survive. It’s horrible,” said Lizbeth Nuncio, who lives with her family on Arbor Place near Interstate 10. Nuncio said her family has been without electricity since Friday night. With temperatures rising, she and her children have been using their truck to escape the heat.

“Yesterday we slept like 30 minutes inside the truck and then we went back inside and then we were outside,” Nuncio said. “We were back and forth.” Crews were working in the neighborhood Saturday, but residents said they had not been given a timeline for when electricity would be restored. Valerie Vasquez said two elderly relatives live on Arbor Place. She has been checking on them and making sure they stay hydrated as the outage continues. “They need to be hydrated,” Vasquez said. “They can start having other medical issues that we’re trying to avoid, but just trying to be there to support them.” Marisela Garza said the conditions have been difficult for her family and neighbors. “We’re waiting patiently, but it is pretty hard,” Garza said. “Kind of feel trapped.”

CPS Energy crews working around the clock

During a Saturday morning news conference, CPS Energy Interim CEO Frank Alvarez asked residents to remain patient as crews worked to repair widespread damage. “Because of extensive damage caused by wind and falling trees, we have downed lines, broken poles, and fallen trees,” Alvarez said. “Some of these outages are going to extend several days.” Alvarez said crews would continue working 24 hours a day, seven days a week and would prioritize making dangerous areas safe before moving on to repairs affecting the largest number of customers. “Our efforts are going to be first to that, so downed power lines or places that we need to make safe,” Alvarez said. “And then after that it’s about getting the most customers on as fast as we can.” He said officials expected a significant reduction in the number of outages throughout Saturday as crews addressed some of the largest problems.

San Antonio libraries serving as cooling centers

For residents whose electricity cannot be restored immediately, the city of San Antonio is making most public libraries available as cooling locations during regular operating hours. City officials said all but three libraries are available for residents seeking relief from the heat. Bazan, Las Palmas and San Pedro libraries were not available as cooling locations. Residents are encouraged to stay hydrated and check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.

If you need somewhere to say overnight city officials say multiple resilience hubs will remain open overnight through 4 p.m on Sunday, August 30.  At these locations, residents will be provided with basic needs and supplies, access to power and device charging, as well as free Wi-Fi. Officials say you should bring your own clothing, medicine and other supplies needed, but pet kennels are available in a seperate area. The following centers are being used as resilience hubs, the city said:

  • Copernicus Community Center – 5003 Lord Road, 78220
  • Garza Community Center – 1450 Mira Vista, 78228
  • Miller’s Pond Community Center – 6175 Old Pearsall Road, 78242
  • Normoyle Community Center – 700 Culberson, 78225
  • Northeast Senior Center – 4135 Thousand Oaks, 78217
  • Southside Lions Senior Center – 3303 Pecan Valley Drive, 78210 

You can request free transport to these locations by VIA Metropolitan Transit. Officials say you can call 3-1-1 or 210-307-6000 for assistance. For the latest information on outages or to report an outage, customers can visit CPS Energy.

Source: ‘We are trying to survive.’ | More than 50,000 San Antonio residents still without power amid Texas heat | kens5.com

He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Proverbs 10:17

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.