Idalia prep: These Central Florida cities, counties have opened sandbag locations

SANFORD, Fla. – Hurricane season is well underway, but as the tropics remain very active, some cities and counties are taking notice.

Seminole County and Sanford announced Friday that sandbag locations will be open this weekend as Idalia is expected to strengthen on a projected path toward Florida as a hurricane.

A lot remains unknown about the tropical system, which will impact Florida this week.

Here’s where sandbags are being offered:

FLAGLER COUNTY

Flagler County will have sandbag stations at the following locations:

LAKE COUNTY

Sandbags are available at seven Lake County locations beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, August 28.

Residents must bring their own shovels and are limited to 10 bags of sand per household. Residents are responsible for filling their own bags.

Sandbags will only be offered before the storm – no sandbags will be dispensed once storm conditions begin.

CLERMONT

The City of Clermont is offering an additional sandbag location for residents at the West Park ball fields in Clermont, 658 12th St.

The sandbagging location is open on Monday, Aug. 28 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

EUSTIS

The City of Eustis if offering sandbags at the Eustis Fire Department Station 22, located at 100 W. Norton Avenue. Sand bags and shovels are provided. Self-service sandbags are limited to 10 bags per household (while supplies last).

LEESBURG

City officials said the Leesburg Public Works Department has sandbags available at the Susan Street Athletic Complex located at 940 Susan Street.

The site will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Residents must bring their own shovel and bag their own sand. Sandbags are limited to 10 per household.

MARION COUNTY

The following sandbag locations will be open from noon until 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28 and from 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29 until weather conditions force the county to stop operations.

All sandbag locations will also be self-service, though bags will be provided.

ORANGE COUNTY

Orange County Public Works is making sandbags available to residents preparing for potential impacts from Idalia.

Five sandbag locations will open to residents on Monday, August 28, at noon.

The Parks and Recreation Division and the Public Works Department will have bags and sand available on a self-serve basis. Residents will need to bring their own shovel or spade to fill their bags. Orange County will provide 10 unfilled sandbags and direct residents to the sand pile.

Individuals with special needs who need sandbag assistance should contact Orange County 311.

The sites will operate from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, August. 29, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., pending severe weather.

Locations are subject to close earlier than scheduled due to weather conditions.

OCOEE

The city of Ocoee will open a self-serve sandbag distribution site on Monday, August 28, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Public Works Department at 301 Maguire Road. Sandbags will also be available on Tuesday, August 29, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ocoee residents must bring a valid ID or city utility bill for proof of residency. Each household will be provided 10 empty sandbags to be filled by the resident. Sand is available at Public Works and staff will provide tools to fill sandbags; however, residents are encouraged to bring their own shovel or trowel.

Ocoee household trash, yard waste and recycle collection services will continue as normal at this time. Residents should place carts at the curb the night before their scheduled pickup day.

WINTER PARK

The city is setting up a sandbag distribution site in the Rollins College softball field parking lot, 452 Harper St. This is only open to residents of the city. People are asked to enter the parking lot via Harper Street and bring proof of residency.

The sandbagging location will be open on:

There is a limit of eight bags per resident or business.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

In preparation for potential severe weather conditions due to Idalia, Osceola County residents may fill and make sandbags at Osceola Heritage Park beginning at noon Monday, August 28.

Supplies will be provided, including bags and sand, in a joint effort between the county and the cities of St. Cloud and Kissimmee.

Residents are allowed 25 sandbags per household and will need to bring their own shovel or filling tool.

Supplies are limited, and sandbags will be available for filling on a first-come, first-served basis at:

POLK COUNTY

Polk County is making sandbags available to residents at Roadway Maintenance Units on Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sandbag sites can be found at the following locations:

There is a limit of 10 sandbags per person.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

Empty bags and dirt will be available to all residents of Seminole County; residents should bring their own shovel and gloves and be prepared to fill and load the bags themselves. Staff is unable to provide assistance. Filled sandbags can weigh approximately 30 pounds, so it is recommended to bring a partner to assist.

COUNTY LOCATIONS:

Boombah Sports Complex (Overflow Parking Lot) 3325 Cameron Ave, Sanford

CITY LOCATIONS: Check with cities for the most up-to-date information.

City of Lake Mary 550 Rantoul Ln, Lake Mary

City of Longwood - Candyland Park 599 Longdale Ave, Longwood

City of Oviedo - Public Works 1655 Evans St, Oviedo

City of Sanford - Sanford Public Works 800 Fulton Street, Sanford

City of Winter Springs - Central Winds Park 1000 Central Winds Dr, Winter Springs

For more information, visit the city’s website here.

LAKE MARY

Sandbag operations will take place until 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Lake Mary Sports Complex located at 550 Rantoul Lane.

There is a 10-bag max per household and you must bring your own shovel.

LONGWOOD

Candyland Sports Complex - Monday 8/28 from 11a-6p - Self-Serve - 10 Bags Max per Family.

OVIEDO

The city of Oviedo will offer sandbags Monday at the Public Works Facility from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Officials recommend entering and exiting the location off of Evans because the entrance and exit leading to Lockwood will be closed for operations.

Staff will assist residents in using a new sandbag-filling machine.

SANFORD

The city of Sanford is offering sandbags for residents to help prepare for possible impacts from the tropical (disturbance). Empty sandbags and sand will be available at 800 W. Fulton Street from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. You will need to bring your own shovel and gloves. Stay connected and stay informed at sanfordfl.gov.

WINTER SPRINGS

The city of Winter Springs will be providing sandbags through Tuesday evening on Aug. 29 at Central Winds Park, located at 1000 Central Winds Drive. Empty bags and sand will be available to all Seminole County residents from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or while supplies last. Residents will be limited to a total of 15 sandbags per household and should bring their own shovels and gloves, as they will be required to fill and load the bags themselves. Filled sandbags can weigh up to around 35 pounds.

On Monday, the city distributed 2,000 bags to residents, according to city officials.

For more information, visit the city’s website here.

SUMTER COUNTY

County leaders announced that sandbags would be available at the Lake Panasoffkee Regional Park at 1589 CR 459 from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28. The sandbag operations are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

To obtain sand and sandbags, residents will be required to show proof of residency within the county and should bring a shovel if they have one.

The county’s website states that residents will have to fill their own sandbags, and there is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

DAYTONA BEACH

The city of Daytona Beach will offer sandbags from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Bethune Point Park at 11 Bellevue Ave.

Residents are asked to bring their own shovel to fill sandbags. There is no charge for sandbags and there is a 10-bag limit per vehicle.

DEBARY

Sandbags are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, and Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 16 Colomba Road. Residents should bring a shovel and identification.

There is a limit of 10 bags per residence.

DELAND

The city’s sandbag location will be open from 3-7 p.m. on Monday with hours to be determined on Tuesday.

The sandbag station will be located in the parking lot south of Melching Field located at 601 South Woodland Boulevard, at the corner of East Hubbard Avenue and South Woodland Boulevard.

Sand and bags will be on site. Please bring your shovel and ID for proof of residency.

There will be a limit of 10 bags per residence.

DELTONA

Two sandbag locations will be open Sunday from 12-6 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

This is a self-service operation where bags will be provided to our residents, but you should bring a shovel and someone to help with the bagging process.

The locations are:

EDGEWATER

The City of Edgewater stocked three locations with sand piles:

Residents should bring their own shovels and bags outside of staffed hours at the Mango Tree Lake location. The staffed hours are:

The Fire Station 57 location will not be staffed.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH

New Smyrna Beach is opening a sandbag location at the Sports Complex, 2335 Simset Drive. This location is only open to people living in the city and proof of residency is required.

The location will be open on:

Residents will be given a roll of 15 bags during operating hours, but they must bring their own shovels. The sand piles will be available to residents after hours through Wednesday, Aug. 30.

ORANGE CITY

Orange City residents may pick up sandbags from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the Waggin’ Trail Dog Park, 1201 S. Leavitt Ave. Residents should bring a shovel and identification and fill their own bags. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household. ID is required. If the demand is still high at 7 p.m., the site will remain open to serve residents.

ORMOND BEACH

A self-serve sand pile and fillable sandbags are available at the Nova Community Center, 440 N. Nova Road, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Ormond Beach residents can show their ID to receive up to 10 fillable bags. Residents should bring a shovel and fill and load the bags into their vehicles.

PONCE INLET

The Town of Ponce Inlet is providing sand and sandbags from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, and Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Ponce Inlet Community Center, 4670 S. Peninsula Drive. Residents should bring a shovel and fill their own bags. There is a limit of 10 bags per resident, and identification is required. Hurricane passes will also be available.

PORT ORANGE

The city of Port Orange will open up its sandbag distribution site on Monday, August 28, for Port Orange residents.

The site is located in the field next to the REC Center at 4655 City Center Circle, in the City Center Complex between Dunlawton Avenue and Herbert Street, on the northwest side of City Hall. and will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. The site will also be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Hours could change depending on weather.

This is a self-service site and you must bring your identification and a shovel. Staff will provide bags for use. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per person.

SOUTH DAYTONA

Sandbags are available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree. Residents should bring proof of residency.

Get tropical updates from Jonathan Kegges.

SANFORD, Fla.