SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — As the threat of severe weather increases with a tropical depression currently gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, local governments are giving residents a chance to prepare for potential flooding by providing sandbags.
Seminole County resident Pauline Matale was one of the first people to show up, shovel in hand, to get sandbags at the Highway 17 pick-up site Tuesday.
"I just want to be prepared," she said. "And, if the storms do come, I don't want to have any flood issues inside the condo."
After living in Casselberry for 30 years, Matale said you can't be over prepared when it comes to Florida's weather.
"In 2004, when we had hurricanes Charlie and the other ones of that nature, we didn't have too much wind damage, but we did have a lot of flooding," she said.
Officials also encourage people to make sure they have at least a week's worth of food and other essentials on hand in case severe weather hits.
Residents should not wait until the last minute to stock up on supplies, officials warn.
"If they need to buy any additional supplies, now is the time to do it," Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris said.
For anyone planning to go to a sandbag pick-up station, it's a lot easier to have one person hold the bag while another shovels, so Harris suggested bringing help.
10 bags per vehicle is the limit.
-Fire Station 71, 89 E. County Road 2006, western Flagler County
-Fire Station 41, 5593 N. Oceanshore Boulevard, in the Hammock
The cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach will provide sand and bags at the following locations:
-Bunnell Fire Station 62, 1601 Old Moody Boulevard
-Flagler Beach Fire Station 1, 320 S. Flagler Avenue, in the front parking lot
Sand and bags are available at the city of Palm Coast at Public Works:
-Palm Coast Public Works Yard, 1 Wellfield Grade, off U.S. 1 just north of Palm Coast Parkway.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
-Open Tuesday-Friday, 8:00AM-7:00PM
-Near Fire Station 35, 4170 N US HWY 17-92, Sanford
-Residents may fill up to 30 bags
-Bring your own shovel
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, EASTMONTE PARK
-Open 24/7
-Eastmonte Park Overflow Parking Lot, 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte
-Bring your own shovel
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, WESTMONTE PARK
-Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00AM-10:00PM, Sunday, 8:00AM-Dusk
-Westmonte Park, 624 Bills Lane, Altamonte
-Bring your own shovel
LAKE MARY
-Open Tuesday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:00PM
-235 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary
-Bring your own shovel
LONGWOOD
-Open Tuesday-Friday, 8:00AM-3:30PM
-Public Works Facility, 907 East State Road 434, Longwood
-Residents may fill up to 10 bags
-Bring your own shovel, photo ID
-Only available for Longwood residents
OVIEDO
-Locations/times will be determined Tuesday, 8/30/16
SANFORD
-Open 24/7
-Public Works Facility, 800 W Fulton Street
-Bring your own shovel
MARION COUNTY
-Open 9:00am starting August 30
North Multi District Office
-8311 N Hwy 441, Ocala
South Multi District Office
-3260 SE 80th Street, Ocala
Forest District Office
-1600 E. Hwy 40, Silver Springs
Dunnellon District Office
-19995 SW 86th St. Unit 3, Dunnellon
ORANGE COUNTY
OSCEOLA COUNTY
- Kissimmee: The corner of Thacker & Alaska Avenue (across from the YMCA)
Up to 10 bags per household, with photo ID required
- St. Cloud: O.P. Johnson Park, 324 Georgia Ave., St. Cloud, FL 34769
Up to 10 bags per household, with photo ID or City utility bill
-Locations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
-20 bags allowed per household
-Residents must bring their own shovel
Fire Station 10
-23023 State Road 40 , Astor
Fire Station 14
-42700 State Road 19, Altoona
Fire Station 53
-2505 Spring Lake Road, Fruitland Park
Fire Station 110
-6234 County Road 561, Clermont
CITY OF OCALA
-Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-Up to 10 bags per resident
-Corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street, Ocala
-Corner of State Road 40 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Ocala
-Tuesday until 2 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
-Up to six bags per residence
-Must provide proof of Orlando residency
-City of Orlando Streets and Stormwater Division, 1010 Woods Avenue, Orlando
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