How to receive or offer storm assistance
As San Antonians deal with the aftermath of last week’s winter weather — and the resulting power and water outages and burst pipes — here’s what you need to know from dealing with property damage to helping others.
City: San Antonio has launched an Emergency Resource Call Center and website to assist residents affected by the storm.
To access it, residents can call
311 and select option 5, call or visit the website
strongertogether.sanantonio.gov. The call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
State: The Texas Division of Emergency Management is asking Texans — residents and businesses — to report damage from the recent winter event by going to damage.tdem.texas.gov, which will help the state receive financial support from the federal government.
Homeowners: Those with insurance should make a claim with their insurance carrier. For those without insurance or if additional assistance is needed, a claim can be filed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Households Program. To file a claim, call 800621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov. Applicants must have a Social Security number to apply.
SAWS: The San Antonio Water System’s Community Pipe Repair Fund is another avenue for individuals who don’t qualify for FEMA’S program. SAWS will prioritize emergency pipe repair that risks causing harm to life, health or safety of the occupants.
To be eligible, applicants cannot qualify for FEMA assistance and their home value can’t exceed $140,000, or have an annual income at or below 140 percent of the federal poverty level, which is equal to $18,032 for an individual or $37,100 for a family of four.
Renters who meet the eligibility criteria also could get services or receive a rebate, but they’ll need the landlord to sign a permission waiver form.
To apply, go to saws.org/cpr. If you need assistance applying, call or email Cpr-sa@saws.org. Spanish-language help also is available.
SBA: Businesses and rental properties that suffered damages can apply for the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Assistance Program, which provides low-interest loans. For more information, visit sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance or call 800-659-2295.
CPS Energy is resuming its auto-pay feature for all customers starting Friday. The utility said current bills do not include additional charges from last week’s winter weather. Any payments that were scheduled while autopay was disabled will be processed. Late fees are currently being waived.
CPS said customers who need help with their bill should contact the utility, which offers several assistance programs.
The boil-water advisory has been lifted for 100 percent of SAWS customers.
The city, Bexar County and San Antonio Food Bank are operating bottled water distribution sites through March 6. The sites will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Limit: One case of bottled water per household, per day. Because of today’s weather forecast, the sites are being consolidated. The driveup sites operating today are:
• Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, 200 Noblewood Drive
• Brooks, Challenger Drive at Research Place
• Seaworld San Antonio/aquatica, 10500 Sea World Drive
• Community Bible Church, 2477 N. Loop 1604 East
• Bullis County Park, 27583 Old
Blanco Road
• Julius Matthey Middle School, 20350 Red Forest Lane
• Leon Valley Community Center, 6427 Evers Road
• AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway
• City of Converse Community Center, 407 S. Seguin Road
• Emergency Services District, 10, World Christian Ministries, 6633 Walzem Road
• Emergency Services District 5 Fire & Rescue, 7120 East 6th St., Somerset
• Emergency Services District 7 Station 116, 18805 Bandera Road
• Emergency Services District 4, 28036 Boerne Stage Road, Boerne
The city also will provide bottled water at three senior centers today, but residents will have to enter the building to get it. Those sites are: North East Senior Center, 4135 Thousand Oaks Drive; Willie M. Cortez Senior Center, 5512 W. Military Drive: and Normoyle Senior Center, 700 Culberson Ave.
In addition, it’s providing bottled water delivery to homebound seniors, SAHA properties without water, nursing homes, boarding homes, some dialysis facilities and residents with medical needs. Delivery can be requested by calling 311.
SAWS has announced a onetime bill relief program in which customers will be charged the lower of two amounts on their next bill: either the total current charges for February or January’s current charges. Customers unable to pay the full balance on their SAWS bill can set up a payment plan. For details, visit saws.org/arrangement.
Blood donation: The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has declared a blood shortage emergency as citywide power and water outages worsened what was already a dire shortage of blood amid the coronavirus pandemic. The center is extending hours through at least Monday at its seven donor rooms. Call or visit Southtexasblood.org to make an appointment.
San Antonio Food Bank: Facebook fundraiser, facebook.com/donate/465255107842727/, is collecting money to replenish food bank supplies. The food bank also is looking for 500 volunteers for mass distributions Friday through Sunday. To sign up or to donate directly to the food bank, go to
safoodbank.org.
San Antonio’s Battered Women’s and Children’s Shelter: The shelter sustained major damage after a pipe burst, causing a ceiling to collapse. Donations can be made at fvps.org.
South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless: SARAH is looking for volunteers to help in the shelters. Follow its Facebook page, facebook.com/ sarahomeless, for ways to donate to other San Antonio organizations that assist with housing.
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