Severe storms on August 28, 2026, knocked out power for over 100,000 CPS Energy customers in San Antonio, with 59,963 still without electricity as of August 29. The National Weather Service reported widespread tree damage across Bexar County, including downed power lines, broken poles, and structural harm to buildings like the Salvation Army facility. Frank Almaraz, CPS Energy’s interim CEO, warned that some outages could persist for days due to the storm’s intensity, citing 24,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and lots of lightning damage.
Resiliency Hubs and Cooling Centers Open as Outages Stretch
The City of San Antonio and CPS Energy opened six resiliency hubs to provide cooling, power, and basic supplies for residents without electricity. These facilities—located at the Copernicus Community Center, Garza Community Center, Miller’s Pond Community Center, Normoyle Senior Center, Northeast Senior Center, and Southside Lions Center—remained open through August 30. Officials urged residents to bring essentials like clothing, medications, and pet supplies, with some hubs offering pet kennels. Libraries and community centers also served as cooling sites, though three branches (Las Palmas, Bazan, and San Pedro) were closed due to power outages.
Thousands face days without power as San Antonio clears
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones emphasized the city’s coordinated response, stating, Unfortunately this went through some of the most vulnerable parts of the community.
She thanked residents for their patience as crews worked around the clock. CPS Energy advised customers to make plans to stay somewhere cool and safe if needed, noting that repairs would prioritize dangerous downed lines before addressing large-scale outages. The utility also warned of prolonged restoration times, with some areas facing delays into early next week.
Community Struggles with Power Loss, Debris, and Uncertainty
Residents described the storm’s impact as unprecedented. Yesenia Cortez, cooling off at a restaurant with her children, said she had discarded spoiled food and worried about childcare if outages continued. Cleo Booker, a San Antonio resident since 2010, noted, It’s never happened to experience multi-day outages. The Five Points area, a densely populated neighborhood near downtown, was among the hardest-hit, with 24,000 customers without power. The Cove, a popular restaurant and music venue, closed until further notice after losing power and sustaining damage.
Debris clearance efforts were underway, with city crews focusing on removing fallen trees and clearing blocked streets. Residents were encouraged to report non-emergency damage via 3-1-1 or email. The Brush Collection Center extended hours to assist with storm-related waste, waiving fees. Meanwhile, high temperatures—reaching 98 degrees on August 29—heightened concerns about heat exposure, prompting officials to advise residents to seek shelter in cooling centers.
Storm’s Aftermath Highlights Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
City, CPS Energy Share Joint Storm Recovery Efforts
The storm’s impact underscored vulnerabilities in San Antonio’s infrastructure. CPS Energy reported 250 downed-wire calls and 653 active outages, with crews working to address widespread damage, including downed lines, broken poles, and damaged trees. The utility’s focus on safety meant some areas would see slower restoration. Officials also noted the storm’s unusual intensity, with 1.69 inches of rain recorded—San Antonio’s wettest day since June—and 23,000 cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes.
The city’s resilience hubs aimed to mitigate these issues, but residents like Cindy Rodriguez-Martinez, who lost power during a play performance, highlighted the disruption to daily life. The drive home was the scariest thing ever, she said, describing encounters with downed power lines and flooded roads.
As of August 30, the city and CPS Energy continued to prioritize safety and recovery. Officials urged residents to avoid downed power lines and to check on vulnerable neighbors. With temperatures expected to remain high, the focus remained on providing immediate relief while addressing long-term restoration needs.
Additional details from the storm’s aftermath include the closure of Morgan’s Wonderland, the Witte Museum, and three public library branches. High school football games were postponed due to torrential rain, thunder, and lightning. The storm caused 1.69 inches of rain, the city’s wettest day since June, and 24,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. CPS Energy’s interim president, Frank Almaraz, emphasized the complexity of repairs, stating, We have down lines, broken poles and fallen trees. Some of these outages are going to extend several days.
San Antonio power outages could last days; cooling centers
Cindy Rodriguez-Martinez, a North Side resident, described her experience during the storm: “The power went out at my theater just before the second act of my sold-out play, ‘Aye, No!’ was about to begin. The drive home was even more unsettling. Then on the way home that was the scariest thing ever, because I was traveling in all black. As I’m driving, I’m praying for everything.” She encountered downed power lines, flooded streets, and car crashes along the way.
City officials also highlighted the importance of community support, with Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez urging residents to check on neighbors and family members who need assistance. She noted that the city had opened resiliency hubs to ensure community members had a cool place to stay overnight. CPS Energy’s Customer Response Unit (CRU) was mobilized to assist customers in areas with the greatest storm impact, directing them to resources for emergency backup plans.
The storm’s impact extended to public transportation, with VIA offering free rides to cooling centers and resilience hubs. The city’s Brush Collection Center, located at 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, 78216, remained open on August 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to handle storm-related debris. Residents were advised to report non-emergency tree damage, blocked streets, or general debris by calling 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 or by emailing [email protected], as crews prioritized safety and critical infrastructure repairs.
As of August 29, CPS Energy reported 653 active outages affecting 63,000 customers, with 250 downed-wire calls. The utility’s outage map showed 59,963 customers without power, down from 112,000 at the peak of the storm. Officials reiterated that prolonged outages would require residents to implement emergency plans, including seeking alternative shelter. The combination of heat and power loss posed significant risks, with the National Weather Service warning of heat index values as high as 101 degrees.
Community members like Nicki Martinez, daughter of Cindy Rodriguez-Martinez, faced disruptions to personal plans, including a move to a new home. The storm’s effects underscored the need for preparedness, with CPS Energy urging customers to stay informed through CPSEnergy.com/Outage or by calling 210-353-HELP (4357). The city’s response efforts, including the coordination of emergency services and public resources, aimed to mitigate the storm’s long-term impact on San Antonio’s residents.
