Our Lady of the Lake University and its surrounding West Side community are continuing to recover after a powerful storm brought winds of up to 70 mph, widespread debris, and nearly three days of power outages to the area. The storm disrupted electricity for approximately 230,000 San Antonio homes and businesses, with more than 111,000 customers experiencing sustained outages at its peak.
clear storm debris from homeowner Martin Crisantes’ backyard on San Antonio’s West Side on Wednesday,
Sept. 2, 2026.
Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News
OLLU experienced its own challenges as the campus remained without power for nearly three days. More than 50 students were relocated to a hotel, while another 25 students were accommodated at nearby St. Mary’s University. More than 300 additional residential students returned home or found alternative accommodations until power was restored Monday afternoon. Throughout the outage, the University’s primary focus remained the safety and well-being of its students.
The storm left brush and debris scattered throughout OLLU’s 55-acre campus, but the University community quickly stepped up. Faculty, staff and others spent the weekend clearing debris, with President Dr. Abel A. Chávez and Athletics Director Tom Norris among those helping remove fallen limbs.
Courtesy / Our Lady of the Lake University
The OLLU community also extended its service beyond campus. On September 2, approximately 50 volunteers were sent to 20 West Side properties to help homeowners clear fallen branches and yard debris. OLLU student volunteer Viviana Connolly was among those working alongside fellow volunteers to assist residents with storm cleanup.
Faculty members also took extraordinary steps to protect valuable University resources. Environmental science faculty member Briana Salas and her sons worked to rescue sensitive chemicals, samples and other materials stored in laboratory freezers and refrigerators. Using dry ice and regular ice, they helped preserve expensive perishable materials in Metz Hall.
Despite the disruption, OLLU canceled classes Monday and resumed regular instruction Tuesday morning after power was restored. The University is now continuing its recovery efforts while documenting storm-related damage and seeking donations to the Student Emergency Fund, which provides assistance to students facing unforeseen expenses, including travel costs related to the storm.
The storm was a difficult reminder of the challenges faced by our neighbors across the West Side, but it also highlighted the strength, compassion and resilience of the OLLU community. When our community needed help, Saints showed up.
Read the full article at the San Antonio Express News link.