The storm hit San Antonio hard on the night of August 28. Straight-line winds, measured by the National Weather Service between 50 and 65 mph with pockets closer to 75, tore through a corridor stretching from northeast Bexar County through downtown and into the southwest side. A peak gust of 77 mph was recorded at San Antonio International Airport. By the time it passed, a gas station canopy had collapsed onto parked cars and roofs across the city were torn open. CPS Energy later confirmed the storm had knocked out power to more than 250,000 customers at its peak, according to News 4 San Antonio.
More than 80 crews worked around the clock replacing poles and repairing downed wires, and CPS Energy confirmed power was fully restored to all affected customers by September 1. But for a lot of West Side families, the real recovery was just getting started. As KSAT reported that same week, neighbors on Calaveras Street have been out clearing fallen trees themselves, dealing with water-soaked bedrooms and living rooms, and figuring out where to even start on roof repairs. One family went three days without power and ended up throwing out $250 to $300 worth of groceries.
That’s the part of a storm like this that doesn’t show up in the outage map: the days after, when people are running fans, hauling out ruined furniture, and in a lot of cases, running a generator to get by while the real repairs get sorted out.
The Overlooked Danger Behind a Working Generator
With temperatures still in the 90s and no AC in a lot of these homes, a generator is what makes days of cleanup bearable, keeping the fridge cold and a fan running while the real repairs get sorted out. That convenience comes with a hidden cost. Gasoline-powered generators throw off carbon monoxide, an invisible, scentless gas, and levels inside a closed-off space, a garage, a carport, a screened porch, can turn dangerous within minutes, exactly the kind of covered spot families reach for after a day of hauling branches and clearing debris.
Cleanup days are long, and it’s easy for a generator to end up parked somewhere unsafe by the end of one, tucked under cover to keep it out of the sun, dragged closer to the house to reach an extension cord, or left running overnight while everyone sleeps. A few things worth keeping in mind while the West Side digs out:
- Set it up a minimum of 20 feet out from windows, doors, and vents, and leave it there. Resist the urge to drag it closer once it’s running.
- Skip the garage, carport, or shed entirely. Propping the door open doesn’t move enough air.\
- Put a battery-operated CO alarm on hand if you don’t already have one, especially useful if you’re keeping the house sealed up against the heat overnight.
- Watch for warning signs: pounding headaches, lightheadedness, an upset stomach, trouble concentrating, feeling unsteady. Anyone showing these while the unit’s running should head outside immediately and dial 911.
Contact Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP
Storm recovery is slow, and it’s not always just wind and water damage that families end up dealing with afterward. Our firm has represented Texas families harmed by generator carbon monoxide poisoning, including cases involving landlord negligence, defective equipment, and unsafe cleanup or job-site conditions. If a generator, a property owner’s negligence, or unsafe cleanup conditions led to a carbon monoxide injury in your household after the San Antonio storm, contact us for a free consultation.
To stay updated on generator safety during severe weather, see our related coverage of storms across the Central US.