Alachua County has issued a local state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Four, which was poised to hit Florida Sunday.
“Alachua County residents should not dismiss this storm,” a county press release said. “Please take the necessary precautions now to get you and your family ready.”
The county order, signed by Board of County Commissioners Chair Mary Alford, followed a state emergency order from Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday afternoon. It will remain in effect for seven days and empowers County Manager Michele Lieberman to declare curfews and “limit assemblies” in order to reduce the the risk of damage, injury, and loss of life resulting from the storm.
“This storm has the potential to cause widespread damage across Alachua County to government and personal property, impact the roadways, disrupt utilities and County operations, cause flooding, therefore this event has the capacity to pose a significant, imminent, and dangerous threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of Alachua County, Florida, including visitors and tourists, as well as their real and personal property,” the county order said.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward also declared a one-week state of emergency order Friday night.
The county order noted that the weather event comes after Alachua County has received 4-7 inches above average rainfall for this time of year.
“With the ground already being saturated from recent rains the risk of surface flooding is increased
and all those impacted need to prepare for the potential of flooding,” the order said.
Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, the county will distribute sandbag bags (up to 10 per car) at Wayside Park (11855 NW US 441). Sandbags, sand and shovels will be available for self serve until 6 p.m.
“Residents wishing to pick up sandbags can access the county’s pick-up site via CR 237 and Eastbound NW 126th Ave.,” the county said. “Access to the site via westbound NW 120th Lane and northbound NW 59th Terrace will not be permitted.”
The county provided the following directions:
From Northbound US 441 (From Gainesville)
Turn Right onto CR 237 (at the Dollar General)
Turn Right onto NW 126th Ave.
Turn Right onto NW 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (at the Mobile Convenient Store)
From Southbound US 441 (From Alachua)
Turn Left onto CR 237 (at the Dollar General)
Turn Right onto NW 126th Ave.
Turn Right onto NW 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (at the Mobile Convenient Store)
The city of Gainesville will operate a self-serve sandbag location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Citizens Field (1400 NE 8th Ave.). The public works building (405 NW 39th Ave.) will host a full service sandbag location with pre-filled bags.
The county has also activated its 311 emergency information line, which is also available at 352-264-6557 for questions and rumor control. To sign up for emergency alerts, text ALACHUA to 888-777.
Once in a great while the county does something right. They used to have “fill your own sandbags”. The prospect of shoveling wet sand that was rained on and then loading them in my car was not appealing. Even poor Dixie county gives away pre-bagged sand with a 20 bag limit!
As your photo shows, his time they had pallets of pre-bagged dry sand, at four loading stations, with at least four employees per station loading the bags for you and collecting Saturday overtime pay. 🙂 I never got out of my car, just stopped and in about 30 seconds I was loaded an on my way. Well run Public Works.