Thousands of people across the San Antonio area remained without electricity on Saturday as crews worked to repair extensive damage caused by powerful storms that swept through the region the night before. Utility officials warned that some customers could face several more days without power as restoration efforts continue.
The storms brought strong winds, heavy rain, and widespread damage to infrastructure across the city. Power poles were snapped, electrical lines were brought down, and trees fell onto roads and utility equipment. The damage left large sections of the city without electricity and created challenges for repair crews working to restore service.
At the height of the storm, more than 112,000 customers lost power. By Saturday evening, utility crews had restored service to many homes and businesses, reducing the number of affected customers to just under 60,000. Even with that progress, officials said the scale of the damage means some neighborhoods may remain without electricity for several days.
Utility workers continued to respond to hundreds of active outages and reports of downed wires throughout the day. Crews were deployed across the city to assess damage, replace broken equipment, and safely restore power to affected areas.
Officials urged residents to prepare for extended outages and to make plans for dealing with the continuing heat. Temperatures are expected to remain high through the weekend, with daytime readings approaching 100 degrees. Heat index values could make conditions feel even hotter, increasing health concerns for households without air conditioning.
Residents were encouraged to seek safe and cool locations if their homes remained without power. Community gathering places, restaurants, and businesses with electricity became important resources for people looking to escape the heat and charge essential devices.
One restaurant north of downtown saw a steady stream of visitors throughout Saturday. Many customers arrived not only for food but also to cool down, recharge phones, and spend time in an air-conditioned environment. The location became a temporary refuge for families waiting for electricity to return.
For many residents, the storm created stressful and frightening experiences. Cindy Rodriguez-Martinez said the power outage began while she was attending a theater performance. The lights went out shortly before the second half of the show was scheduled to begin.
Her drive home proved even more difficult. She described navigating dark streets during severe weather while encountering flooded roadways, damaged utility lines, and traffic accidents. The conditions made travel dangerous and left many residents shaken by the storm’s intensity.
With power still unavailable at her home, Rodriguez-Martinez made plans to stay with family members who had electricity. Her daughter was preparing to move into a new house and adjusted those plans to ensure the family could remain in a safe and comfortable environment.
Other residents focused on preventing food loss. Extended outages forced many households to throw away refrigerated items that could no longer be kept at safe temperatures. Families spent part of the day purchasing ice and moving food to coolers in hopes of saving what they could.
Yesenia Cortez said she had already discarded food from her refrigerator after losing power. While she was concerned about replacing those items, she also worried about the impact the outage could have on her work schedule. If schools face disruptions because of power problems, many parents may need to arrange childcare on short notice.
The storm also affected transportation and neighborhood safety. Fallen branches, damaged poles, and electrical hazards created obstacles across parts of the city. Emergency responders and utility workers remained active throughout the day as they addressed reports of storm-related damage.
Longtime residents said the situation was unusual for San Antonio. Cleo Booker, who has lived in the city for more than a decade, said previous outages typically lasted only a short time before service was restored. Facing the possibility of multiple days without power was something he had not experienced before.
As repair efforts continue, officials are reminding residents to stay away from downed power lines and report hazards immediately. Safety remains a priority as crews work around the clock to restore electricity.
The San Antonio Power Outages have disrupted daily life for tens of thousands of residents. Although significant progress has been made since the storm struck, many families are still waiting for service to return. Utility officials say restoration work will continue until every affected customer has power again, but some repairs may take time because of the widespread damage left behind by the storm.
