SAN ANTONIO — Since the snowstorm hit San Antonio, law enforcement and firefighters have been putting their lives on the line to keep San Antonio safe. The San Antonio Police Department shared images online showing how officers helped deliver food, prescriptions and even helped family reunite with their loved one, a 93-year-old WW2 and Korean Veteran.
On Thursday, SAPD shared images of an officer helping a 16-year-old girl who was pushing her disabled mother in a wheelchair in the cold. Officer Eloy Medina made sure they were able to get to Walgreens for essentials and back to their apartment.
The San Antonio Fire Department also shared images of one of their fire trucks tipped over on the side with the windows smashed in. They say the crash occurred due to the ice. They urged people to stay home and emphasized that their lives were also, on the line.
KENS 5 spoke with a San Antonio mother who shared how local emergency responders hand-delivered a precious resource to her family. Candace Berland moved to the Alamo City about 3 years ago. Her husband serves in the U.S. Army. Berland says the February winter storm marks the first major weather event for them in San Antonio. She said while the family had electricity, her pipes froze at her home. The family had about a day's supply of water left.
“The concern wasn’t as much as my husband and me. We could get through it. But with a baby that I breastfeed, hydration is a huge key to produce milk,” shared Berland.
She said her mother, Rita Mitchell who lives in Henager, Alabama, decided to call local businesses for Berland and got in touch with the public works department.
“She’s doing everything she can to show her love and take care of us,” said Berland.
Eventually, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and two deputies hand-delivered a pack of water to Berland Wednesday.
“I gave them a hug. I know we’re not supposed to do that right now during the pandemic,” said Berland.
She is now able to rest at home knowing that her mother’s love and local emergency responders are helping her weather the storm.
“Just knowing, providing sustenance for our daughter wasn’t going to be an issue,” she said. “It’s such a divisive time in our country that sometimes it’s easy to forget that we’re all part of the same community and we need each other.”