SAN ANTONIO – A family in San Antonio’s South Side is facing a persistent flooding issue that has plagued their property for decades, highlighting a troubling lack of resolution despite numerous complaints to city services.
Residents of Rockwell Boulevard, such as Onesimo Barrera, have reported severe flooding since the 1980s. Barrera expressed his frustration, stating, “I got a pump that’s been pumping for eight days today. I call 311, I don’t know, 10 times. I call the councilman day after day.” This ongoing struggle has forced the family to elevate their furniture onto cans to protect their belongings.
Lisa Barton, Barrera’s daughter, emphasized the urgency of the situation, especially considering her mother’s mobility issues. “San Antonio needs to do something. And then (Barrera’s) damages, who is going to pay for that? I mean, it just doesn’t make sense. It’s ridiculous, and then my mom’s in a wheelchair, she can’t get out. He has to carry her.”
The Barreras believe that the flooding problem stems from a neighbor who has been dumping dirt on their property, thereby clogging a drainage system. “The drainage ditch is full,” Barrera explained. “Maybe once, twice a week with a load, he drives in there and unloads it.”
A city spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating, “Construction on private property appears to have diverted the natural flow of surface water, negatively affecting nearby properties. The Department is currently assessing how the city can help alleviate the situation and reduce these impacts.”
Despite the city’s acknowledgment, the Barreras are frustrated with the slow pace of action. Barton noted, “Code compliance takes, I don’t know, 30 days. But I mean, you’re talking about a whole city against one person, and you’re telling me that a whole city cannot take care of that one person with the drainage.”
While the city did send a truck to pump out some of the water, Barrera stated it was insufficient: “They came the other day, pumped two trucks full. It didn’t make a dent on that, and it’s gonna keep raining during the rainy season.”
The flooding issue appears to be particularly severe on Rockwell Boulevard, as water from surrounding streets flows directly towards their property. “It has to be changed,” Barrera insisted. “I mean, the city cannot expect me to live like this.”
