CENTRAL FLORIDA — With an eye on Helene, many counties and municipalities have opened sandbag locations to help residents prepare their homes for possible inclement weather.
Flagler County
No locations announced.
Lake County
In preparation for heavy rain and deteriorating weather conditions, Lake County is opening sandbag locations from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, or until weather conditions become unsafe.
Sand and bags will be available. Residents should bring their own shovels and must fill their own bags at most locations. Sites marked with asterisks (**) will provide assistance available for residents who need help filling their sandbags.
- East Lake Sports and Community Complex: 24809 Wallick Road, Sorrento
- North Lake Regional Park: 40730 Roger Giles Road, Umatilla
- **Astor Fire Station 10: 23023 State Road 40, Astor
- **Minneola Athletic Complex: 1300 Fosgate Road (13930 Education Ave.), Minneola
- **PEAR Gateway Park (Front Entrance): 26701 U.S. Highway 27, Leesburg
- Hickory Point Recreation Complex: 27315 State Road 19, Tavares
CITY LOCATIONS:
- City of Mount Dora - Frank Brown Sports Complex, 1245 E. Pine Ave., until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or until weather becomes unsafe, Wednesday, Sept. 25
- Clermont - The city has opened a sandbag location at the West Park ball fields, 658 12th Street, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Marion County
Eight self-service sandbag locations are being opened to help mitigate possible flooding due to heavy rains during Helene. Sites will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 andfrom 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Shovels will be available, but residents are encouraged to bring their own to help speed up the process. Each vehicle is limited to 10 sandbags.
- Tuscawilla Park (Reilly Arts Center): 800 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala
- Ed Crosky Recreation Center: 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala
- Dunnellon Public Works: 11924 Bostick St., Dunnellon
- Wrigley Field: 405 County Road East 316, Citra
- John Van Fleet Sports Complex: 14445 NE 14th Street Road, Ocala
- Belleview Sports Complex: 6501 SE 107th St., Belleview
- Martel Recycling Center: 296 SW 67th Ave Road, Ocala
- Marion Oaks (behind the Community Center): 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala
Orange County
In preparation for heavy rain, Orange County will open its free self-service sandbag program at select parks. Sites will operate Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
- Barnett Park: 4801 West Colonial Drive, Orlando
- Downey Park: 10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando
- Meadow Woods Rec: 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle, Orlando
- Bithlo Community Park: 18501 Washington Avenue, Orlando
- West Orange Rec: 309 S West Crown Point Road, Winter Garden
- Clarcona Horse Park: 3535 Damon Road, Apopka
HAPPENING NOW: Long line forming at Barnett Park as residents prepare for potential impacts from Helene. The storm is expected to grow to a Category 3 hurricane - possibly stronger, before making landfall near the Big Bend area overnight Thursday.@MyNews13 @MaureenMcCann13 pic.twitter.com/N774Y6WgsS
— Jaclyn Harold (@JHarold_tv) September 25, 2024
CITY LOCATIONS:
- City of Winter Park- Rollins Softball Field parking lot, 452 Harper St. (enter via Harper), from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 and from 7 a.m to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
- City of Apopka - Edwards Field, located at the corner of Forest and 1st Street (take Highland Avenue, near the dog park), from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 24 and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. Self-service site, with a 10-bag limit.
Osceola County
Through a joint effort among Osceola County, Kissimmee and St. Cloud, residents may fill and make sandbags at Osceola Heritage Park.
Supplies will be provided, including bags and sand.Residents are allowed 25 sandbags per household and will need to bring their own shovel or filling tool.Supplies are limited.
COUNTY LOCATION:
Seminole County
Seminole County sandbag operations are opening Tuesday, Sept. 24 for residents to prepare for potential heavy rainfall.
Empty bags and sand are available; residents should bring their own shovels and a partner to assist with filling and loading.
COUNTY LOCATION:
CITY LOCATIONS:
- City of Altamonte:Eastmonte Park 830 Magnolia Drive, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
- City of Altamonte Springs: Westmonte Recreation Center 624 Bills Lane, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
- City of Lake Mary Municipality:Lake Mary Sports Complex 550 Rantoul Lane, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
- City of Oviedo - City Administration:Public Works Maintenance Yard 1725 Evans Street, from noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
- City of Sanford, FL Government:Public Works Complex 800 W Fulton St/, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
- City of Winter Springs:Central Winds Park 1000 Central Winds Drive, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
Learn more at www.seminolecountyfl.gov/sandbags.
Sumter County
Sumter County will have sand and sandbags available for residents for self-service at the Lake Panasoffkee Regional Recreation Park, 1589 County Road 459, Lake Panasoffkee.
It starts at 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.
Sandbag operations will be available according to weather conditions.
To obtain the sand and sandbags, residents will need to provide proof of residence within Sumter County, and they should bring a shovel if they have one. Residents pick up sandbags, fill them and place them in their vehicles. There is a 10-sandbag limit per vehicle.
Volusia County
County Locations
- Volusia County will distribute sandbags to residents. The distribution will occur from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Volusia County Branch Jail, 1300 Red John Drive, Daytona Beach. Persons must provide proof of Volusia County residency and may receive up to 10 pre-filled sandbags per vehicle through a drive-thru line. Additional sandbag distribution sites are available through various municipalities.
City Locations
- Edgewater - Residents can collect up to ten (10) bags per household, with proof of residency, at the Hibiscus Drive and 26th Street site on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2024) and Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024) from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
- DeLand -The city of DeLand will have sand and bags available for residents beginning at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday ahead of expected tropical weather later this week. The city's sand and bag distribution site will be in the parking lot south of Melching Field, 601 South Woodland Boulevard, at the corner of East Hubbard Avenue and South Woodland Boulevard.
- Port Orange -The city will open its self-service sandbag distribution site on Tuesday and Wednesday for Port Orange residents at City Center, in the open field between the REC and the ballfields.
- Daytona Beach - The city will provide sandbag materials to residents from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Bethune Point Park, 11 Bellevue Avenue in Daytona Beach. Sandbag operations will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Residents are asked to bring shovels to fill sandbags. There is a 10-bag limit per vehicle.
- Deltona - The city will operate a self-service, sandbag site for residents on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at Festival Park, 191 Howland Blvd. Residents should bring shovels, gloves and extra hands to help expedite the process. Staff will be available to help residents unable to fill their bags.
- New Smyrna Beach - The city has opened a self-service sandbag distribution site for residents at the Sports Complex football stadium at 2335 Sunset Drive. Access to the site and materials will remain open for 24 hours a day. Residents should bring a shovel and are limited to 15 bags.