Check our Live Blog for the latest Hurricane Helene updates:
Original Post:
With Helene forecast to hit Florida as a hurricane later this week, some Central Florida counties have announced that self-serve sandbags will be available for residents beginning Tuesday.
This listing will be updated as more locations are announced.
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County has opened a citizen information line that will remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. moving forward. The non-emergency line is 352-253-9999.
Eight sandbag locations will open Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. And starting Wednesday, the sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until weather conditions become unsafe. Sand and bags will be available on site. Residents should bring their own shovels and must fill their own bags.
Residents who need help filling their sandbags can visit one of the three locations marked with asterisks (**), where assistance is available.
The locations:
- East Lake Sports and Community Complex, 24809 Wallick Road, Sorrento.
- Frank Brown Sports Complex, 1245 E. Pine Ave., Mount Dora.
- 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. 27, Leesburg.
- Four Corners Fire Station 112, 16240 County Road 474, Clermont.
- Hickory Point Recreation Complex, 27315 State Road 19, Tavares.
MARION COUNTY
Marion County Emergency Management has announced the opening of eight sandbag locations across Marion County. They're open noon through 7 p.m. on Tuesday and 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday. These locations are self-serve. Shovels will be available, but people are encouraged to bring their own. The limit is 10 bags per vehicle.
Here are the locations:
- 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, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala. (Behind the Community Center).
ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County has six sandbag locations open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
The locations are:
- Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
- Bithlo Community Park, 18501 Washington Ave., Orlando
- Clarcona Horse Park, 3535 Damon Road, Apopka
- Downey Park, 10107 Flowers Ave., Orlando
- Meadow Woods Recreation Center, 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle, Orlando
- West Orange Recreation Center, 309 S, West Crown Point Road, Winter Garden
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Osceola County has established a Citizen Information Center hotline -- 407-742-0000 -- for residents with specific questions or who need to speak with a county representative.
A sandbag distribution is was announced for Osceola Heritage Park, 1211 Shakerag Road, Kissimmee. It will be open until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas are urged to review their plans for heavy rainfall events. But the county reports that lakes and ponds have ample capacity to handle the expected rain.
Supplies will be provided, including bags and sand, but you'll need your own shovel. There's a 25 sandbag limit per household. Supplies are limited, and the county urges residents to re-use filled sandbags they have at home from distributions earlier this year.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Seminole County sandbag operations are opening Tuesday to help residents prepare for potential heavy rainfall. Empty bags and sand are available, but residents should bring their own shovels and a partner to assist with filling and loading.
County and city locations:
- Boombah Sports Complex, 3325 Cameron Ave., Sanford. The unstaffed location will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
- City of Altamonte Springs - Eastmonte Park, 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte Springs. The unstaffed site is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
- City of Altamonte Springs - Westmonte Recreation Center, 624 Bills Lane, Altamonte Springs. The unstaffed site is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
- City of Lake Mary - Lake Mary Sports Complex, 550 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary, The unstaff site is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
- City of Longwood - Candyland Sports Complex, 599 Longdale Ave., Longwood. The unstaffed site is openfrom 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
- City of Oviedo - Public Works Maintenance Yard, 1725 Evans Street, Oviedo. The site, with crews on site to assit, is open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
- City of Sanford - Public Works Complex, 800 W. Fulton St., Sanford. The unstaffed site is open frm 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
- City of Winter Springs - Central Winds Park, 1000 Central Winds Drive, Winter Springs. The site, with minimal staffing, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
SUMTER COUNTY
Sandbags are available for Sumter County residents at the Lake Panasoffkee Regional Recreation Park, 1589 County Road 459, Lake Panasoffkee, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
To obtain the sand and sandbags, residents will need to provide proof of residence within Sumter County and 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
There's a county sandbag site:
- Volusia County Branch Jail, 1300 Red John Drive, Daytona Beach. The site will be open 5 p.m. Wednesday. Proof of Volusia County residency is required.
And several cities also have sandbags for residents:
- DeBary's site at DeBary City Hall , 16 Colomba Road, will be open until 7 p.m. Wednesday. There's a limit of 10 bags per household, while supplies last. Proof of DeBary residency is required. Bring your own shovel.
- Deltona's site is at Festival Park, 191 Howland Blvd., unitl 6 p.m. Wednesday. Residents can get up to 10 bags per vehicle. Staff will be available to help those unable to fill their own bags.
- Edgewater has two locations available from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday (and Thursday, weather permitting). The locations are Fire Station No. 57, southwest Corner of Hibiscus Drive and 26th Street and Mango Tree Lake, 901 Mango Tree Drive. There's a 15 bag limit with proof of Edgewater residency. The announcement says both locations are accessible 24 hours a day.
- Holly Hill has a sandbag location at the Holly Hill Public Works Department, 424 10th St., open until 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday (weather permitting). There's a 10-bag limit. Residents should bring a shovel and identification showing a Holly Hill address.
- Oak Hill has a sandbag site at Oak Hill City Hall, 234 S. U.S. 1, until noon on Wednesday. Bring proof of residency.
- Orange City has a sandbag location at the Waggin' Trail Dog Park, 1201 S. Leavitt Ave., until 5 p.m. Wednesday. Bring proof of residency.
- Ormond Beach has a location at the Nova Community Center, 440 N. Nova Road, until 5 p.m. Wednesday. Bring proof of residency.
- The Town of Ponce Inlet has a sandbag site for residents at the Public Works Department, 4875 S. Peninsula Drive, until 6 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday (weather permitting). There's a 10-bag limit, and ID and shovel are required.
- Port Orange has a self-service sandbag distribution site at City Center in the field between the REC and the ballfields. It's open unitl 7 p.m. on Wednesday. There's a 10-bag limit. ID and shovel required.
- In New Smyrna Beach sandbags are available around the clock through Thursday next to the Sports Complex football stadium at 2335 Sunset Drive. The limit is 15 bags per resident. You'll need to bring your own shovel.
- South Daytona has a sandbag location at the Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree Road, open until 6 p.m. There's a 15-bag limit and residents should bring proof of residency.
