This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s historic summer of flooding and the urgent questions facing the city and region. In June and July 2025, San Antonio and surrounding areas experienced two of the deadliest flood events in Texas history—catastrophic disasters that overwhelmed infrastructure, claimed dozens of lives, and exposed vulnerabilities in both local response systems and long-term planning.

Cory Ames is joined by Rick Trefzer, Deputy General Manager of the San Antonio River Authority, and Brendan Gibbons, board chair of River Aid San Antonio and former environmental reporter, to discuss what went wrong during these back-to-back floods—and what needs to change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

They discuss:

• How climate change and drought-flood whiplash are reshaping risk in San Antonio

• What the data and new floodplain maps reveal about future rainfall 

• The role (and limits) of infrastructure, early warning systems, and local ordinances in protecting communities

• The ecological, public health, and economic costs of flooding—from debris and pollution to escalating insurance and cleanup demands

• Why nature-based solutions and green infrastructure are drawing renewed attention, and what it will take to implement them across the city

• Practical steps for residents and policymakers, from flood insurance to advocacy around city codes and disaster preparedness

The conversation explores the tradeoffs between rapid development, long-term safety, and environmental stewardship, highlighting both the progress made and the ongoing debate about how to best protect San Antonio in a changing climate.

Explore tools for flood preparedness, local volunteer opportunities, and community resources at the San Antonio River Authority, River Aid San Antonio, and BexarFlood.org.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #127. What If We Replaced Every Lawn in San Antonio? – What would happen if San Antonio ditched traditional lawns for native plants? Guest host Cory Ames and naturalist Monika Maeckle dig into the transforming power of sustainable landscaping—from water savings to reimagining curb appeal. If you’re inspired by the challenges of flooding, drought, and climate resilience, this episode offers practical ways every resident can help make San Antonio more sustainable, one yard at a time.

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