SAN ANTONIO — After weeks of frustration and repeated flooding, residents on Dhaka View in San Antonio are finally seeing action from city officials.
The neighborhood, plagued by floods due to a clogged drainage system, has been the focus of community efforts to hold city leaders accountable.
“We lost a lot of financial things just because of the flood,” said Jonathan Clemena, whose home was severely affected by the recent floods. Clemena and his neighbors faced extensive damage and financial burdens as floodwaters filled their homes.
Residents pointed to a drainage system filled with debris and overgrown grass as the cause of their problems. However, following a recent news story highlighting their plight, city crews have begun cleaning up the area.
“I think the biggest reason why they came over here is because we put it into the news,” said a resident. “Everyone bonded together as a community. We stated what we wanted, where the location was, and how many times it flooded. So we are very happy that the city started to take action.”
Despite the progress, Clemena expressed a desire for more permanent solutions. “I wish they did this after the first flood, but this is the fourth flood, and the community had to get together for something to happen. It’s a great start. Unfortunately, it’s a little bit too late. The damage is done,” he said.
Clemena hopes the city will cement the area to ensure water flows toward the storm drain, preventing erosion and further property damage. “If we just leave it as dirt, the land will erode. We will lose more land, more property value. But if we just make it into cement, perfect,” he said.
While city crews continue their cleanup efforts, residents remain hopeful that this marks the end of their flooding issues. They urge the city to act more swiftly in the future should problems arise again.