News Summary
Gina Ortiz-Jones was inaugurated as the new mayor of San Antonio, marking a historic moment as the first mayor in eight years and the third woman in the city’s history. This significant event comes in the wake of a devastating flood that claimed 13 lives, prompting a community-wide outpouring of grief and calls for infrastructure improvements. Ortiz-Jones expressed her commitment to addressing safety concerns and preventing future disasters during her inauguration and at a candlelight vigil held for the victims.
San Antonio—Gina Ortiz-Jones was sworn in as the new mayor of San Antonio on Wednesday, becoming the first person to take on this role in eight years and the third woman in the city’s history to serve as mayor. Her inauguration comes at a time of profound grief for the San Antonio community, following a devastating flood that claimed the lives of 13 individuals. In her first official act, Ortiz-Jones pledged to address the recent tragedy as a top priority of her administration.
Thirteen victims lost their lives in the flash flooding that struck San Antonio last week, prompting widespread calls for supportive measures and infrastructure improvements. Following her inauguration, Ortiz-Jones attended a candlelight vigil held by local nonprofits to honor the victims and their families.
The vigil, organized by Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach and Jesus in Motion Ministry, was held at the San Antonio Aware and Prepared headquarters. Community members gathered to remember the flood victims, participating in a poignant ceremony where families shared stories and messages of faith while the names of the deceased were read aloud. Among the victims, ages ranged from 28 to 63, with one individual remaining unidentified at the time of the ceremony.
Attendees at the vigil expressed their solidarity with the victims’ families, highlighting the urgent need for change in the wake of this tragedy. Many did not know the victims personally but felt compelled to support those affected. The flood struck particularly hard, as some individuals were trapped in their vehicles and drowned when heavy rains caused the flooding.
Concerns surrounding grief support emerged, with local advocacy groups stepping up to connect affected families with both emotional and financial resources during this challenging time. Ortiz-Jones addressed the crowd, conveying her condolences and her commitment to ensuring the safety of the community and preventing similar disasters in the future.
(Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark acknowledged the difficult circumstances, stating that the community had “failed” to protect the victims from such a dire situation.) Local reports indicated that the San Antonio Fire Department conducted over 70 water rescues during the flooding event, with initial estimates suggesting at least 11 deaths and several people reported missing.
The flood also caused extensive power outages and significant damage to local infrastructure. In response to its impacts, San Antonio and Bexar County declared a joint disaster, seeking assistance from state and federal governments for recovery and cleanup efforts. Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg characterized the incident as a tragedy and urged for continued support for the victims’ families.
As Ortiz-Jones embarks on her mayoral tenure, she faces the challenge of addressing the infrastructural failures that contributed to the flooding, alongside the need to foster community safety. The San Antonio community is rallying together to find support and solace, working towards healing and rebuilding after this catastrophic event.
In the wake of adversity, community members are dedicating themselves to not only grieving the loss of those who were taken too soon but also to taking actionable steps towards preventing future tragedies. The work of rescue organizations and city officials will be crucial in rebuilding trust and ensuring the safety of all San Antonio residents.
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Additional Resources
- KENS 5
- Wikipedia: San Antonio
- BBC News
- Google Search: San Antonio flooding
- KSAT
- Google Scholar: San Antonio flooding
- San Antonio Express-News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio flooding
- USA Today
- Google News: San Antonio flooding
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
