Less than five days after five tornadoes slammed into San Antonio, the City says 70% of all the debris left behind by the storm has been collected, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
City spokeswoman Thea Setterbo says crews from Solid Waste, Transportation, and Parks & Recreation Departments have collected 11,900 cubic yard of debris, the equivalent of stacking brush, pieces of downed trees, shingles, and other construction debris six feet high across an entire football field.
Debris removal efforts will continue for another week, with crews criss crossing streets in affected areas through March 3.
City Code Compliance officers have now counted 575 homes in the City which have suffered from some level of damage from the storm. The Police Department continues to conduct enhanced patrols through storm damaged neighborhoods to protect homes which are unsecure due to damage.
The City says it is also available to provide guidance on the possibility of unlicensed contractors and scammers making the rounds of damaged homes, something which has been reported to 1200 WOAI news by many homeowners.Representatives of the Texas Department of Emergency Management and Small Business Administration will be touring the hard hit areas next Tuesday. If residents qualify under SBA guidelines, they will be given tips on how to apply for a low interest loan to cover non-insured repairs.
The City says its 3-1-1 call center has received nearly 12,000 calls for service since Monday morning for non emergency issues, mainly to report downed trees and power lines and request debris pickup.While the Red Cross has closed its shelter at Blessed Sacrament Church, the City says background checked and trained volunteers from service groups like Southern Baptist Relief, Church of Latter Day Saints, and Texas Baptist Men have been deployed to the hard hit areas to provide assistance.