The city of Gainesville, Alachua and Columbia counties announced sandbag locations on Tuesday in preparation for potential Hurricane Helene forecasted to hit North Florida later this week.

In Alachua County, staff will distribute 10 sandbags per vehicle at the following locations:

• Alachua County’s Wayside Park (11855 NW US 441). Distribution will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. until, weather permitting, 3 p.m. After staffed hours, both shovels and sandbags will be available for self-service.
  
  Direction to Wayside Park:

Northbound on US 441 (from Gainesville): Turn right onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).

Southbound on US 441 (from Alachua):

Turn left onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).

• Hawthorne: Hawthorne Wastewater Treatment Plant, 23016 SE 65^th Lane, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Be prepared to fill your own bags.
• Newberry: Newberry Public Works Compound, 120 NW 260^th St. Bring your own shovel. Sand and bags are first come first serve.
• High Springs: Memorial Park, 17380 NW US 441. Open until 5 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Limit of 10 bags per person. Residents must bring a shovel to self-serve location.

In the city of Gainesville, 10 pre-made sandbags per vehicle will be available until 5 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Public Works Center located at 405 NW 39th Ave. To ease the flow of traffic, arrive at this location via northbound NW 6th Street and then turn east (right) onto NW 39th Ave.

At Citizens Field (1000 NE Waldo Rd.), sand and bags will be available to make self-serve sandbags until 5 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Residents are asked to bring a shovel to fill sandbags and assistance will be provided for those in need. A limit of 10 bags will be provided per vehicle. To ease the flow of traffic to Citizens Field, access the site from NE 12th Avenue via Waldo Road or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Avenue.

In Columbia County, residents are limited to 15 bags per vehicle and pickup will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and from 7:30 a.m. until determined by the storm on Thursday. Elderly or special needs residents are directed to go to Columbia County Public Works for assistance in obtaining sandbags.

Sandbags will be limited to 15 bags per vehicle. Pickup will be available Wednesday, September 25th, 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Thursday, September 26th, 7:30 a.m. until to be determined based on the storm. Elderly or special needs residents should go to Columbia County Public Works for assistance in getting sandbags.

Columbia County sandbag locations include:

• Lake City: Columbia County Public Works, 607 NW Quinten St.
• Lake City: Southside Sports Complex, 1963 SW Bascom Norris Dr.
• Fort White: Fort White Community Center, 17579 SW State Road 47
  

Editor’s note: This story was updated with sandbag locations for the city of Gainesville.