TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Emergency managers in neighborhoods across the Big Bend are opening sandbag locations ahead of a potential tropical system. Our neighborhood reporters visited sites in South Tallahassee and beyond Friday. Watch our team coverage below:
GADSDEN COUNTY:
Thursday, the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. The Gadsden County Department of Emergency Management and the Gadsden County Department of Public Works have made sandbag operations available for residents from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sandbags will be available Friday to the public at the following locations:
- Post Plant Pit off Post Plant Road
- Clark Pit off Edwin Clark Road
Sandbags are limited to 15 bags per household. Citizens need to bring shovels to fill bags themselves. Locations will not be staffed, but crews will monitor and provide additional sand and bags as needed. The site will be open until the storm threat has passed and it is determined there is no longer a need.
Residents requiring more information or assistance should call Gadsden County Emergency Management at (850) 875-8833 or (850) 627-0899. Additionally, residents can sign up for emergency text alerts at Text AlertGadsden to 888777 for accurate and up-to-date weather and emergency alerts.
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Jefferson County Fire Rescue 57 Martin Road Monticello: Shovels are provided and empty sandbags are in the lobby of the Fire Rescue Station. Hours are from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday. Then they shift to 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. until further notice. Limit 15 bags per household so everyone gets an opportunity.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY:
Sandbags will be available for Lafayette County residents starting at 9:00 am on Friday August 2nd. They are located behind the Mayo Community Center. It is a self fill station. 25 bags per household. Gates will close at 6:00 pm. They will reopen same times Saturday and Sunday. If you cannot make these times please contact 386-294-1301. 138 SW Community Circle Mayo, FL.
LEON COUNTY:
Leon County will open five sandbag locations for residents. Starting Friday, August 2, at 2 p.m., sandbags will be available to the public at the following Leon County locations:
- Leon County's Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road
- Apalachee Regional Park (Solid Waste Management Facility), 7550 Apalachee Parkway
- Fred George Park, 3043 Capital Circle NW
- At the intersection of Oak Ridge Road at Ranchero Road
- Fort Braden Community Park, 15000 Blountstown Hwy
Leon County will staff these sites from dusk to dawn to assist residents in quickly filling sandbags. Sand, bags and ties will be available for public use. Residents are asked to take no more than 15 bags so as to allow others to prepare.
TALLAHASSEE:
To assist citizens in flood-prone areas, the City will open three sandbag locations by 2 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 2. Sandbag sites are available at the Jack McLean Community Center (700 Paul Russell Road), Mike Blankenship Skate Park, (2909 Jackson Bluff Road) and the Northwood parcel (1940 N. Monroe Street, near El Jalisco).
Sandbags are limited to 25 bags per household. Sites are self-service, so citizens need to bring shovels to fill bags themselves. Locations will be staffed from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to replenish sand and bags as needed. The site will be open until the storm threat has passed and it is determined there is no longer a need.
For information on Leon County sandbag operations, visit www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei/ [leoncountyfl.gov].
TAYLOR COUNTY:
Self service sandbag stations are open at the Taylor County Road Department in Perry and the Steinhatchee roll off site.
THOMAS COUNTY:
Sandbags are available at the collection sites in the county.
You will have to fill them, and there is a 10 bag limit per family. Sites are located:
- Hansell Road
- Stewart Road
- Woodruf Farm/Sunset
- Hwy 188 @ 202
- Hwy 84-Boston
- Dillon Road
- Hwy 19 Riverwood and Patten
WAKULLA COUNTY:
Wakulla County Sheriff's Office will have sandbags available Friday beginning at 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm and again Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Limit 10 per vehicle.
