SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Emergency management officials in Seminole County are offering sandbags for residents to help prepare for possible impacts from a tropical system next week.
On Friday, a sandbag location was opened at the Boombah Seminole County Sports Overflow Lot, which is located at 3450 East Lake Mary Blvd.
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Tropical Depression 9 formed in the central Caribbean Sea early Friday and could make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Do you have a plan in place in case a tropical system hits?
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Empty bags and dirt are available at the Boombah Sports Complex until 7pm today for people to fill and load themselves. Seminole County Emergency Management says potential heavy rain next week could cause flooding. pic.twitter.com/jFPXJ64JoR
Concerns in Seminole County have been high because of recent heavy rainfall and the potential for more rain in the coming days.
“Our river levels in some cases are in action stage,” Planning Manager Steven Lerner said. “The only way for people to protect their homes is the sandbags that are available to them.”
County officials said they always look closely at Lake Harney and The Mullet Lake Park area. Little Wekiva is back to normal levels, so they are not as concerned about that area presently.
The water is already high at Jim Bolton’s home. His backyard backs right up to the St. Johns River, close to Mullet Lake.
“I’ll be tying boats up to my fence before it’s over with if we get a lot of rain,” Bolton said.
Bolton said he has seen worse in the 23 years he has lived here. This weekend, he will plan a trip to the store and do some work in his yard to prepare for what could be ahead.
“I’m just gonna kind of straighten stuff up, pick stuff up out of my yard and put it up, so it don’t blow around,” Bolton said. “It’s kind of like, ‘Wait and see.’”
Empty bags and dirt are available to all residents of Seminole County.
Residents should bring their own shovel and gloves to be prepared to fill and load the bags themselves.
“Sandbags are a precautionary measure. They don’t cost anything,” Lerner said. “If you need them, you have them. Get them now while they’re available and don’t wait until the last minute.”
Residents are allowed to fill up to 15 bags per household.
The location in Sanford is open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday. It will also be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
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