flooding

It’s been more than two months since the flood, and the process of recovery in the Espada area is moving forward slowly. The San Antonio River Authority has offered residents a few options, but so far no action has been taken.

SARA is offering Espada residents three options: A direct buyout, an option to remain on the property and rebuild their homes to flood standards, or Bexar County will buy a flood easement where owners would retain their property for agricultural purposes but live elsewhere.

The San Antonio River Authority’s real estate team is meeting with residents of the Espada neighborhood that was flooded during the torrential rainstorm in late May. Bexar County Commissioners are hoping there is something they can do to help the residents get re-settled.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' report released this week found that the Mission Reach Project did not cause the devastating flood that poured four feet of water into some of the homes of the Espada neighborhood.

On Monday the San Antonio River Authority re-opened a part of the Mission Reach trails damaged in last month’s floods.

The section opened runs from VFW Boulevard to Mission Road.

SARA had to close portions of the Mission Reach after large sections of soil washed out from under the trails, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians and cyclists.

Gloria Rodriguez, who is in SARA’s Community Relations Department said some of those areas in the project have been repaired and are ready for exploring again.

Following devastating floods that hit San Antonio over Memorial Day weekend, the City Council has reallocated $3.75 million for cleanup and repair projects.

Public Works Director Majed Al-Ghafry says the Federal Emergency Management Agency declined to assist San Antonio and surrounding areas cleanup and repair from the Memorial Day flood because the flooding didn't quite do enough damage. Guidelines require that damage totals $5.9 million or more locally for federal assistance to kick in.

Bexar County Commissioners are hoping to offer some options very soon to flooded property owners in the Espada area.

The court promised the residents it would do whatever it could to make things right:

Espada neighborhood residents spoke emotionally at commissioners’ court Tuesday, explaining that they were left homeless by the May 25th flood.

Resident Gloria Garza told the court through her tears, "Excuse me if I sound harsh, but we're in great mourning for a tremendous loss."

As the flood waters recede and evaporate from Saturday’s rains, Bexar County is breaking ground on a flood control project on Fredericksburg Road.

The Northwest Plaza Shopping Center at Fredericksburg and Gardania was condemned and torn down a few years ago and is now a concrete slab.  The 26-acre plot of land just a few blocks south of loop 410 and Wonderland Mall will now become two large detention ponds about 8 feet deep to alleviate flooding.  

The $28 million Laddie Place flood control project is part of the county’s 10-year $500 million flood plan.