SAN ANTONIO — *This article has been edited to include a July 26 update from City of San Antonio Public Works
When it rains, it pours along Frio City Road.
Video shared with KENS 5 by a business owner shows deep pools of water forming on his property in the 2000 block of Frio City Road just 20 minutes after the rain began this week. Neighbors say the city created this problem when crews repaired a portion of the road in 2015.
But the fix created a new problem: Crews didn't install any drains.
Now, when it rains heavily like the downpours San Antonio is seeing this week, the water flows to lower ground--impacting every property on the block. The flooding got so bad at one shop that they no longer go in to the office after significant rains.
"I know we need water in San Antonio," said Issac Ortiz, who owns Economy Signs at 2034 Frio City Road. "But I'm praying it don't rain because it's very bad for us!"
Ortiz wasn't aware of the flooding problem until he moved into the location two years ago.
"We were fine until the summer came and the strong rains came," he added. "We eventually found out (about the issue) because we were flooded out of the building."
He says that, around 2015, city crews raised the road thanks to money allocated through a bond project.
"The original plan showed for water mitigation, for flood drainage," Ortiz said. "But they never did that."
With no drains, he says Frio City Road ends up looking like it has this week: Businesses blocked by water, impeded by the very thing that the drought-stricken region has sorely needed.
The first significant rainfall resulted in $20,000 worth of damages to his property. According to Ortiz, the water never posed a threat before the 2015 road repairs.
"We've already had water inside the offices, I've had to replace the floor inside already," he says. "If it rains all night, we can't show up in the morning."
Meanwhile, across the street at the decades-old business Prosperity Travels and Morgan International Tours, Owner Jose Hidalgo says that while they could sell their property, the next person to move in will still be faced with the same waterlogged problem.
"We're having to lift our pants when we walk out, jumping all over the place, and our shoes always get soaked with water," he says, acknowledging that Ortiz across the street has a much worse flooding situation.
Hidalgo says there are no drains for a two-mile stretch of Frio City Road. He says he's tried to ask the city for a solution, but his efforts have not succeeded.
"When they fix this, they should only have to fix it once. I worked in construction for many years. I know the job, and I don't know what happened here," he said. "There was never as big of a problem here until 2015!"
But the city might soon turn on the metaphorical faucet for a fix. According to Public Works officials, a 2022 bond project will address drainage issues along Frio City Road.
At the same time, business owners say their block isn't included in the plans.
A spokesperson for the City of San Antonio's Public Works Department is looking into specifics for KENS 5 involving the 2015 project. At the same time, Councilwoman Terri Castillo's office is investigating the problem. A communications representative for District 5 says their team members are in touch with business owners and Public Works to see what further action can be taken.
Friday afternoon, a City of San Antonio Public Works spokesperson told us, "Two projects are in the works that will improve drainage along Frio City Road, although not in this specific block. Project 1: Frio City Road Outfall Phase 1, Project 2: Zarzamora Overpass at Frio City Road. The previous project you reference appears to have been a 2012 bond project to improve pedestrian mobility to this stretch of Frio City Road (from Malone to Brazos). We will dispatch Public Works staff to make contact with the business owners and assess the area."