SAN ANTONIO – Residents Arturo and Vicky Cano are raising alarms about a persistent flooding issue that plagues their home on Bernard Drive, as well as at least three neighboring houses. Each rainfall brings with it the threat of water inundation, which Vicky poignantly describes as “a big wave going back and forth with the water.”
In recent days, heavy rain caused water levels to rise significantly, reaching as high as the second step of their porch stairs. The Canos have observed that the flooding is not an isolated incident; it is a recurring problem that has caused great distress. “My truck’s a little lifted right where the floorboards go down; it’s leveled right there,” Arturo noted, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The couple has taken it upon themselves to help others affected by the flooding, assisting a driver whose car stalled in the flooded street outside their home. The water had entered the engine, rendering the vehicle inoperable. This incident underscores the dangerous conditions that arise during heavy rains.
A significant concern for the Canos is the stagnant water that lingers long after a rainfall. “It’s damaging our home underneath with all the water going under there, messing up our foundation,” Arturo explained. The couple is motivated not only by their own plight but also by the need to protect their elderly neighbors, who have endured this flooding issue for years.
In their quest for a solution, the Canos have filed numerous reports with the city’s 311 service, providing photographic evidence of the flooding. “We’ve been putting in tickets since we moved in here,” Vicky stated, expressing frustration that many of these tickets were closed without sufficient investigation. “They’ll tell us, ‘Oh, it’s closed, let me find out,’” she continued, highlighting an ongoing lack of accountability from city officials.
After repeated attempts to engage with the 311 service yielded no results, Vicky took the issue directly to her city representative, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran. In a productive meeting, Vicky learned that a drainage outlet is needed for their street, but funding for such projects is limited. “Miss Phyllis actually went to a one-on-one bond company,” Vicky recounted, “and the bond company said that they didn’t have enough funds for that drainage sewer.”
Now, the couple finds themselves at an impasse, feeling increasingly frustrated by the lack of action and support. “This is unacceptable,” Vicky exclaimed. “If y’all can raise the property tax for all homeowners, y’all can at least come up with something to just get a little small drainage to get this water out of here.”
The Canos’ story is emblematic of a broader issue faced by many residents in flood-prone areas, where infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the challenges presented by climate change and urban development. Their determination to advocate for themselves and their community is a testament to the resilience of those affected by environmental challenges.
