San Antonio, TX —
It’s been over two weeks since severe flooding hit the city claiming 13 lives. One of the hardest hit areas was Austin Highway on Perrin Beitel.
As the City of San Antonio faces a major budget deficit the family of one flood victim doesn’t want to see any cuts to drainage improvements.
“This flood took away my dad, and he’s not coming back,” Leeann Valdez said.
Leeann Valdez is grieving her father Carlos Valdez III who was laid to rest yesterday.
“I literally blame the city for everybody’s death,” Leeann Valdez said. “The city is at fault.”
Carlos Valdez III was one of 13 victims swept away in the wall of water that flooded Perrin Beitel. Leeaan Valdez wants the City of San Antonio to make sure no other family has to feel her pain.
“Warn people with flashing lights or something,” Leeann Valdez said.
District 10 was hit the hardest by the floods. As councilmembers outlined what they feel is most important to protect in their districts Councilman Marc Whyte said it’s time to focus on the must haves and not the wants.
In the City Council’s budget meeting Whyte said it’s required by law to maintain infrastructure.
“Our drainage systems all over the city are not in great shape,” Whyte said. “We had this tragedy a couple of weeks ago. When we saw that flooding, and I do want to be careful because we don’t know exactly what caused that, but it’s a good reason for us to invest in our infrastructure in our drainage systems so we can prevent this from happening in the future. Make sure that nobody dies because of drainage problems.”