CPS Energy announced that it expects to restore power to the final customers affected by Friday night’s severe storm by Tuesday night, officials said Monday. As of 10 a.m., just under 2,000 customers remained without electricity, down from a peak of about 111,000 outages.
Utility response and remaining challenges
Interim President and CEO Frank Almaraz said crews are working to bring the number of outages down into the hundreds soon. “We believe that we ought to be able to restore our very last customer by tomorrow night,” Almaraz told reporters. The timeline holds unless additional severe weather slows crews, and the National Weather Service forecasts a 0% chance of rain through the first half of the week.
The remaining outages are the most difficult to repair. CPS Energy has already replaced about 50 utility poles and cleared roughly 500 downed wires, but some damage lies in backyards and narrow alleys blocked by fallen trees and debris. Replacing a single pole takes at least three hours.
City cleanup and assistance efforts
San Antonio city departments have shifted resources from bulky‑item collection to storm‑debris removal. A first collection pass through the hardest‑hit neighborhoods is planned for Friday, with a second round on Saturday. Residents are asked to place storm‑related brush and debris at the curb for pickup. Public Works crews are pre‑staging fallen trees so Solid Waste crews can haul them away efficiently.
Deputy City Manager María Villagómez reminded residents to place small amounts of brush and spoiled food directly into green organics carts for regular collection, and not to bag them first. Trash and organics collection otherwise continues on its normal schedule.
The city is also providing extra garbage pickups in the most affected areas. An additional collection began Monday in portions of District 1, and another is scheduled Tuesday for a West Side section bounded by Culebra Road, Buena Vista Street, Zarzamora Street, and Interstates 10 and 35. Residents in those zones will receive notices about the extra service.
City workers in bright blue vests are conducting door‑to‑door outreach in neighborhoods that experienced prolonged outages, connecting families with food, water, and other assistance. The outreach targets the hardest‑hit areas rather than every home that lost power. Residents can also call 311 for non‑emergency help.
Mayor’s message
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones urged residents not to avoid asking for help out of fear of code‑violation citations. “We are not there to do anything except help get your power back on,” she said. “Please do not hesitate to call and make sure that we can help with debris and some of the other things that are happening because that is our focus right now.”
Resilience hubs, cooling centers, and food aid
Three of the city’s six resilience hubs – Gilbert Garza Community Center, Normoyle Community Center, and Northeast Senior Center – will remain open for overnight shelter as power outages decline. Libraries, parks, and community centers continue to serve as cooling locations during regular hours, and VIA provides free transportation to these sites.
The San Antonio Food Bank served 224 households at a curbside distribution Sunday and delivered food to 14 apartment complexes serving more than 2,500 households. It also provided 2,000 meals to Opportunity Home San Antonio for staff to distribute directly to residents, including seniors unable to leave home. Additional distributions are scheduled Monday at Plaza Guadalupe and Miller’s Pond Park, and the Food Bank’s main warehouse remains open for assistance through Friday.
Traffic safety and public‑safety updates
Damaged traffic signals and utility infrastructure continue to pose hazards. Public Works expects all storm‑affected signals to be functional by Wednesday, though temporary signals may be used in some locations. San Antonio Police officers are managing traffic at major intersections and urging drivers to treat any non‑functioning signal as a four‑way stop and to move over for utility crews.
Acting Police Chief Jesse Salame noted that a CPS Energy employee was struck by a vehicle while working on recovery but escaped serious injury. Police have increased patrols in Districts 1 and 5 after residents expressed concerns about unattended homes. Officers will maintain a heightened presence until power is fully restored.
Investigations continue into two deaths linked to the storm. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death of a 46‑year‑old woman swept into San Pedro Creek a drowning; a second person survived. Police are also investigating a possible drowning of a man found at Woodlawn Park.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
