Martinez moved a barber’s chair outside the shop and continued cutting customers’ hair. (Photo: TPR)
Winds of 50 to 65 mph, heavy rain, lightning and flash flooding to parts of the city knocked down trees and power lines across the city, left homes damaged, trees and utility poles toppled and more than 112,000 CPS Energy customers without electricity at its peak. With temperatures rising towards 100 degrees, families without electricity also had to find ways to stay cool. Texas Publilc Radio reported that with no electricity, he moved his barber chair outside and continued cutting customers’ hair as residents cleaned up fallen trees and dealt with the heat.
“It’s a hard time, but you want to look good,” Martinez said. The chair was placed beneath an awning, where it had some shade. The shop itself had no electricity, but Martinez was determined to keep working. The damage around the neighbourhood was still clearly visible. Fallen trees had hit vehicles and power lines, while some homes had roofs badly damaged or completely removed. Residents spent Saturday dealing with the immediate effects of the storm. Some cut up fallen trees, others cleared damaged homes, while families without electricity tried to stay cool.
A powerful storm knocked out power and damaged homes across San Antonio on Friday night, but a barber refused to close his shop. Tens of thousands of people were still without power on Saturday as residents began clearing debris and checking the damage.
