{"id":377368,"date":"2026-07-17T23:15:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T23:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/377368\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T23:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T23:15:25","slug":"san-antonio-livestock-sanctuary-trapped-by-flooding-left-with-significant-damages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/377368\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio livestock sanctuary trapped by flooding, left with significant damages"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Pigs enjoy food and drink on Winding Branch Ranch. Credit: Winding Branch Ranch<\/p>\n

San Antonio-area livestock sanctuary Winding Branch Ranch has been left with significant damages after Wednesday\u2019s devastating floods.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just say I was in complete disbelief,\u201d ranch Executive Director Matthew Aversa posted in the caption of an online video showing the floodwaters overtaking four acres of animal paddocks on the 9-acre property.<\/p>\n

On the phone with the Current, Aversa said pig pens at the site \u201cturned into legitimate rivers\u201d as dry creeks filled up and overflowed onto the property.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ground is literally disappearing underneath us,\u201d Aversa said.<\/p>\n

Aversa said recovery will require \u201csignificant repairs,\u201d including replacing the water and electrical lines that serve Winding Branch\u2019s animal barns, repaving its \u201cnow-undriveable\u201d driveway and relocating its pig habitat to higher ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is becoming our new reality,\u201d Aversa stated in the video caption. <\/p>\n

The Bulverde ranch also suffered damages during last year\u2019s July 4 Hill Country flooding, which included destruction of paddock fences. According to Aversa, yesterday\u2019s flooding was worse.<\/p>\n

And with the increased rainfall expected in the San Antonio area this summer and fall due to this year\u2019s Super El Ni\u00f1o, Aversa said the damage is likely to continue.<\/p>\n

Winding Branch Ranch is hoping to acquire an additional 5 acres on higher ground to expand its capacity for rescuing barnyard animals. But for now, the ranch must contend with a sloping property where the increased frequency of flooding is causing it to rethink its layout and scramble to adjust its calendar of events.<\/p>\n

An event scheduled for this week at the ranch \u2014 a Culinary Camp \u2014 has been postponed until next week, causing the sanctuary to issue credits and refunds. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur tuition for those programs goes directly into the mouth of the animals and helps us continue to rescue more animals,\u201d Aversa said.<\/p>\n

Volunteers delivering food have also been turned away since nearly roads are still blocked from the flooding.<\/p>\n

Aversa said he and others who live on the ranch are able to exit the property but aren\u2019t able to use the one access road out of the area. As a result, they\u2019re effectively stuck until the waters recede.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are on an island,\u201d Aversa said. \u201cThankfully we have a great stockpile of food here.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Aversa, the blame lies squarely with politicians when it comes to flood mitigation measures.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo elected official has taken it upon themselves to propose that we build a bridge or we build something to keep the people who live here safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In the caption of the video taken at the beginning of Wednesday\u2019s flooding, Aversa called for emergency donations<\/a> to cover the repairs, just like he was forced to do after last year\u2019s catastrophic flooding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for standing with us, especially during moments like this,\u201d the post concluded.<\/p>\n

Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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