SAN ANTONIO – Nearly a month after a severe storm tore through her West Side neighborhood, Maria Salazar is still rebuilding and still frustrated with the city’s response.
Trees and debris slammed into Salazar’s yard off Merida Street near South Zarzamora Street after the Aug. 28 storm. CPS Energy officials said her neighborhood was among the hardest hit.
The storm damage added up fast for Salazar.
“We had to take out of our 401(K) because we don’t have $10,000 just sitting in our account, right? I’m going to tell you, it’s been more than $10,000,” Salazar said.
Salazar said the city did help pick up brush at no cost, but a large tree trunk was left on the curb — and her calls for additional help went unanswered.
She said a city representative’s response made things worse.
“Two days after that, the information changed. And I said, but that’s not fair … I had to take out from my 401(K),” Salazar said. ”And you know what the city told me? Life’s not fair. That’s what he told me. That’s what I got from a gentleman from the City of San Antonio.”
When asked about the city’s response, Salazar said she was angry.
“I was upset because why give me that comment? I’m here, like, it’s kind of kicking me while I’m down,” she said.
In one of the city’s press conferences after the storm on Aug. 30, officials said they received thousands of calls that weekend and worked around the clock to clear debris while checking on the residents most impacted.
Despite the frustration, Salazar said her neighbors and family came through when she needed it most.
“Luckily the community came together,” Salazar said. “People that we didn’t even know, you know, ‘Hey, are y’all OK? Yes, we’re good, thank you,’ but it was just the community that we had to look out for each other.”
Residents who need financial assistance can apply for a low-interest federal disaster loan.
Applicants may apply online and download applications at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for additional information.
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