WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – The city of Winter Springs will once again start self-serve sandbag operations in anticipation of more rainfall.
A sandbag site at Central Winds Park will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, the city said in a news release.
The sandbag site is open to all Seminole County residents while supplies last, the release states.
Residents, limited to 15 bags per household, are advised to being their own shovels and gloves, as well as any help they need in order to get the bags filled and loaded on their own. The release notes a filled sandbag can weigh around 35 pounds.
It’s not known how much rain is expected to fall in the area as computer models differ on how much moisture may stream into Central Florida from the Gulf in the coming days or week.
Drivers should enter Central Winds Park via SR 434 and Central Winds Drive. Once inside the park continue on to the roundabout to the left and then straight to the parking area at the rear of the park.
City of Winter Springs to open self-serve sandbag operations October 4, 2024 (excerpt)
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
News 6 was last in Winter Springs to talk with residents living near Gee Creek who have been worried this hurricane season about flooding.
The Central Winds Park sandbag site opened in late September ahead of Hurricane Helene. Water levels in the creek had settled at that time, but neighbors such as Sal Scaglione — who lives on Holiday Lane along Gee Creek — told us he still had his concerns after Hurricane Ian.
“That’s our biggest fear is the flooding. Winds and other stuff is not that high on our list – it’s the creek right behind us,” he said. “We’re allowed 15 sandbags. It’s not going to do much if we have the flooding that we had with Ian, but at least we’ll be able to protect something.”
[PREVIOUS COVERAGE BELOW]
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: