Crystal City Flood Assessment Highlights Widespread Damage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Crystal City Flood Assessment Reveals Long Road to Recovery as Residents Report Widespread Damage and Ongoing Needs

Community survey provides first detailed snapshot of flood impacts and will help guide recovery efforts and future assistance.

SAN ANTONIO / CRYSTAL CITY, Texas (July 31, 2026) — The San Antonio Bexar Necessities (SABN) Lions Club & Foundation today released preliminary findings from its Crystal City Flood Impact & Community Needs Assessment, offering one of the first community-driven snapshots of the challenges families continue to face following the recent flooding in Crystal City and surrounding areas. The assessment was developed after the organization deployed volunteers to Crystal City on July 25 to assist residents with cleanup, distribute relief supplies, and document community needs.

To date, 105 households have completed the assessment, providing valuable insight into the extent of residential damage, recovery barriers, cleanup challenges, and immediate material needs. While the assessment is not intended to represent every flood-affected household, it identifies clear trends that will help guide ongoing relief efforts and strengthen future requests for assistance.

"Our goal was simple, listen first," said Martin Padron, Jr., President of the SABN Lions Club & Foundation. "Before we could determine how best to help, we needed to understand directly from residents what they were experiencing. Every survey response represents a family, a home, and a recovery journey that is still unfolding."

Among the preliminary findings:

• 73.3% of respondents reported floodwater entered their home.

• 76.2% reported mold or suspected mold following the flood.

• 55.4% anticipate it will take six months or longer for their household to recover.

• 74.3% identified the cost of repairs as one of the greatest barriers to recovery.

• Residents also identified immediate needs including home repairs, financial assistance, cleanup supplies, bottled water, food, furniture, appliances, and hygiene products.

The assessment follows severe flooding that impacted Crystal City and neighboring communities after heavy rainfall caused the Nueces River system to rise rapidly, resulting in widespread residential flooding, displacement, and property loss. The Chula Vista community was among the hardest-hit areas, with many families returning to homes damaged by floodwaters.

In response, the SABN Lions Club & Foundation mobilized volunteers from San Antonio to Crystal City, delivering bottled water and other relief supplies while establishing a temporary community assistance center at the Hike & Bike Trail in Chula Vista. Volunteers also helped residents complete both the Club's Crystal City Flood Impact & Community Needs Assessment and the State of Texas Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) to ensure disaster impacts were documented as thoroughly as possible.

"The assessment was created to complement, not replace, the State's iSTAT reporting process," Padron said. "The more complete the data, the stronger the case we can make for bringing additional resources into Crystal City.

The SABN Lions Club & Foundation encourages residents who have not yet participated to complete both the Texas iSTAT and the Crystal City Flood Impact & Community Needs Assessment. Additional responses will continue to strengthen the community's understanding of unmet needs and help inform future recovery efforts.

✅ The Texas iSTAT damage assessment. https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/

✅ The Crystal City Flood Impact & Community Needs Assessment. https://tinyurl.com/CCFloodSurvey

The organization expects to release additional assessment updates as more responses are collected and analyzed.

About the San Antonio Bexar Necessities Lions Club & Foundation

The San Antonio Bexar Necessities Lions Club & Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to serving communities through humanitarian service, disaster response, vision initiatives, hunger relief, youth programs, and community partnerships. Guided by the Lions International motto, 'We Serve,' the organization works to meet immediate needs while building stronger, more resilient communities throughout San Antonio, Texas and beyond.

For additional information, please email club@sabnlionsclub.org