As Hurricane Ian advances closer to the region, Gainesville residents can pick up pre-filled sandbags at the city’s Public Works facility or fill their own at Citizens Field on Tuesday starting at 8 a.m.
Mayor Lauren Poe signed an executive order declaring a local state of emergency, which started Monday at noon. Alachua County also declared a state of emergency Monday and activated the 311 information line.
Residents can pick up a maximum of 10 pre-filled sandbags per vehicle from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Public Works administration building, 405 NW 39th Ave.
The city is also providing bags and sand for people to fill their own sandbags at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Road. Anyone wishing to make their own sandbags will need to bring a shovel or trowel. The city will provide a maximum of 10 bags per vehicle.
Gainesville is asking people coming to Citizens Field to access the stadium event site from NE 12th Avenue via Waldo Road or to travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Avenue.
Other area sandbag sites:
- Alachua County also is providing 10 prefilled sandbags per vehicle at Wayside Park, 11855 NW U.S. Highway 441, starting at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. The county is asking residents who are picking up sandbags to enter the park via County Road 237 and eastbound NW 126th Ave. (See map to the site below)
- The city of Newberry started providing sandbags at its Public Works Compound, 120 NW 260th Street, on Monday. These bags are not prefilled, and residents will need to bring their own shovels.
