Bay Area prepares for Elsa
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Storm preparations are underway across the Bay Area as Tropical Storm Elsa makes its way toward Florida. Emergency management officials opened self-service sandbags stations in some counties and are urging residents to prepare.
"We’re just trying to sandbag the house to stop some potential flooding from coming in," resident Robert Mocsary said.
Mocsary rented a U-Haul truck at the last minute to transport sandbags. He’s one of several people who spent Saturday with a shovel in hand filling up bags with sand at W.H. Jack Mitchell Jr. Park in Pasco County.
"We’re just going to tie them up because we’re running out of time with the rain coming again and then we’ll help my aunt put them down. She’s elderly so just trying to give her a hand," Mocsary shared.
The park is one of the four Pasco County sandbag locations. Each site is self-service and open 24/7. The county provides the bags, but residents must bring a shovel.
We’re really encouraging residents that now is the time to prepare," Pasco County Emergency Management Interim Director Laura Wilcoxen said. "There’s a lot of uncertainty with this storm’s forecast right now. So before the Fourth holiday tomorrow, today is a great day to start putting together your disaster supply kit."
Wilcoxen says since Hurricane Irma, the county encourages residents to have enough food and supplies to last 14 days unlike the normal 72 hours. That’s means having at least one gallon of water per person, per day.
LINK: Track Tropical Storm Elsa on MyFoxHurricane.com
"We have time as the storm starts making its way up toward the peninsula. It’s right before July 4th. I know everyone is planning on having their parties so be set now," Wilcoxen said.
Pasco County sandbag locations include:
- W.H. Jack Mitchell, Jr., Park: 4825 Little Road, New Port Richey
- Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
- Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Avenue, New Port Richey
- Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn): 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
In Brooksville, a self-service sandbag is open at Linda Pedersen Park located at 6300 Shoal Line Boulevard in Spring Hill.
The city of Pinellas Park opened multiple self-service sandbag sites for residents only on Saturday. Locations will be open Saturday, July 3, 2021, 12:00-5:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 4, 2021, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Residents can get up to 10 sandbags each and must show a water bill and/or valid driver's license indicating they are a resident of Pinellas Park to receive their sandbags. Locations include:
- Helen Howarth Park: 6301 94th Ave N. in Pinellas Park
- Pinebrook Park: 7202 118th Ave N.in Pinellas Park
- Broderick Park: 6101 66th Ave N. in Pinellas Park
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