San Antonio Businesses Count on SERVPRO When Disaster Strikes

12/10/2020 (Permalink)

It always helps to be prepared on the off chance that a disaster may occur. Call SERVPRO of Braun Station for assistance today.

Professional Storm Damage Mitigation is a Phone Call Away in San Antonio

San Antonio gets its name from a Portuguese priest, Saint Anthony of Padua, who was part of a Spanish expedition in 1691. It is a city rich in history that uniquely combines the past with modern growth. It is among the top ten largest cities in the United States and one of the fastest-growing cities. As of 2019, 1,547,253 residents live, work, and play in San Antonio.

Payaya Indians & Spanish Explorers

When the Spanish explorers first came to the area, the Payaya Indians lived in the San Antonio River Valley. The spot was known as Yanaguana, and means “refreshing waters.” Spanish explorers, along with missionaries, traveled up the river to the settlement on June 13, 1691. The group named the place San Antonio in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. June 13 is celebrated as his feast day. Even with the group visiting this area, it would be quite some time before a settlement was established.

A Spanish Settlement Began

In 1709, Father Antonio de Olivares arrived and decided it was an excellent place for a mission and a settlement. In late 1716, approval was given by the viceroy to build a combination mission and presidio. One of the goals was to stop French expansion in the area. They already had a colony to the east of the area. Another goal was to prevent illegal trading with the natives. Martín de Alarcón was to get the establishment started, but it was delayed due to differences between him and Olivares. But in 1718, the building commenced. The work that Olivares undertook was amazing and, with the help of the Payaya Indians, resulted in:

•   The Mission de San Antonio de Valero ( The Alamo)
•   The Presidio San Antonio de Bexar
•   A bridge to connect both 
•   The Acequia Madre de Valero

The Establishing of Villa de Bejar

The presidio and mission built by Olivares and the Indians resulted in families coming to the area and establishing the Villa de Bejar. The Father would be granted ownership of the Mission de San Antonio de Valero. This town would become one of the most important towns in Spanish Texas. Olivares commissioned the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar on May 5, 1718. 

Growing Texas by Importing Families

A proposal was brought to the King of Spain on February 14, 1719, by the Marquis of San Miguel de Aguayo. The proposal put forth that 400 families from Havana, the Canary Islands, or Galicia get transported there in order to grow the province of Texas. Approval was given, and families were sent by way of Havana and Veracruz.

A Small Group Goes Forth

The small group that began the undertaking, under the leadership of Juan Leal Goraz, traveled overland from Veracruz. They arrived on March 9, 1731, at the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar. The group now included 15 families and joined the military community when they arrived. They would become the first organized civil government in Texas as part of the villa. 

Spanish - Mexican settlement

During the next century, Spanish-Mexican settlements would pop up all over the Southwestern lands. Juan Leal Goraz, Jr claimed approximately 100,000 square miles and became a prominent person in the area. His land spread out over what is now six states. San Antonio was the capital of his land, and he ruled over it for over 30 years. Leal Goraz would be a bold figure in exploration and the establishment of colonial bases. Eventually, his military forces were pushed back into Mexico, within today’s boundaries, because of bankruptcy.

San Antonio Becomes the Largest Spanish Settlement in Texas

The province of Tejas, which was at first under Spanish rule then Mexican, is where San Antonio became the capital. As the area grew, Camino Real was built to allow travel to Nacogdoches. Today it is known as Nacogdoches Road. European-American pioneers were now allowed into the area by Mexico. Violence broke out when Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824.

A War Begins

As the violence escalated, a Texian Army was formed, and they forced the Mexican soldiers out of the area east of San Antonio. Americans were the main occupants of that settlement. In December 1835, Texian troops captured San Antonio from Santa Anna’s brother-in-law. Ben Milam would lead the Battle of Bexar. Santa Anna marched on San Antonio in the spring of 1836.

The Alamo

This little mission would be fortified and occupied by men under the command of James C. Neil. When he left, James Bowie and William Barrett Travis jointly commanded the mission. Many good men would bravely die in the battle of the Alamo, which took place from February 23 through March 6, 1836. All the men were killed, and the Texian Army was defeated, but it was a crucial point in defeating Santa Anna. The cry, “Remember the Alamo,” would be one that would become a rallying point for freedom across the United States. 

SERVPRO Proudly Serves San Antonio Businesses

When storms hit, they can be devastating to local businesses. Flash flooding can rage through the town, causing contaminated water to flow through homes and commercial buildings. When this happens, it puts your business on hold. At SERVPRO, we understand the importance of getting your enterprise back on its feet after flooding. We provide storm damage mitigation that:

•   Removes black water
•   Cleans contaminated areas
•   Sanitizes surfaces 
•   Dries the premises
•   Disposes of unsalvageable material
•   Packs-out and clean content
•   Uses controlled demolition to dry and restore 
•   Repairs and restores structural elements

One of the best things business owners can do is consider SERVPRO’s Emergency Readiness Program (ERP). It allows commercial ventures to be prepared before disaster strikes. It enables you to access an online portal with all your company’s information in one place. Enrollment in ERP also means SERVPRO has the information we need to roll out immediately when needed. 

Contact SERVPRO of Braun Station at (210) 267-2159 to talk to our team about setting up your ERP profile.