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ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Florida<\/strong> \u2013 As tropical disturbance Invest 93L<\/strong> begins organizing in the Gulf of Mexico<\/strong>, officials across Northwest Florida<\/strong> are urging residents to stay ahead of the weather and prepare for heavy rainfall<\/strong>. Emergency teams in both Escambia<\/strong> and Santa Rosa Counties<\/strong> are now offering free sand<\/strong> to residents \u2014 part of proactive flood-readiness measures as hurricane season intensifies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are 12 sand pile locations<\/strong> now available throughout both counties. Locals are encouraged to bring their own shovels<\/strong> and empty sandbags<\/strong> to these fill-up sites. This resource is available at no cost<\/strong>, but supplies are self-serve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis storm that’s forming in the Gulf has some odd characteristics,\u201d<\/strong> said Travis Tompkins<\/strong>, Escambia County\u2019s emergency manager<\/strong> and deputy public safety director<\/strong>. \u201cWe just want to make sure our citizens are comfortable and ready.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though Tompkins<\/strong> added that this particular system may not require sandbags<\/strong>, the message remains clear: prepare early<\/strong>. \u201cIt\u2019s a good reminder that we\u2019re in the season, and we need to be ready,\u201d<\/strong> he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Santa Rosa<\/strong> and Escambia officials<\/strong> have strategically placed sand around the region. Locations include key sites like Don Sutton Park in Molino<\/strong>, Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway<\/strong>, and Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze<\/strong>. All sites are open now for public use.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Pensacola<\/strong>, Jimmy Coe<\/strong>, president of the long-standing Pensacola Hardware Company<\/strong>, underscored the role of sandbags in weather preparedness. \u201cSandbags, water, batteries, generators, food \u2014 all the basics you need for at least two days,\u201d<\/strong> Coe said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He added that planning ahead helps avoid panic. \u201cThe prepared list that you put together ahead of time is so important, because when you’re in the heat of the moment, you forget basic stuff.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to Tompkins<\/strong>, sandbags should only be filled to about three-quarters full<\/strong>. This keeps them flexible enough to mold around doors and garage thresholds, helping to block water intrusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s free, it\u2019s there, go for it,\u201d<\/strong> Tompkins emphasized. \u201cIt keeps you from scrambling when you really, really need it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Okaloosa County<\/strong> is currently not offering sand<\/strong> for this system, Escambia<\/strong> and Santa Rosa<\/strong> residents can visit the following sand locations:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Escambia County:<\/strong><\/p>\n Don Sutton Park<\/strong> \u2013 2320 Crabtree Church Road<\/strong>, Molino<\/strong> <\/p>\n Santa Rosa County:<\/strong><\/p>\n The corner of Leisure Street and Citrus Drive<\/strong>, Navarre<\/strong> Invest 93L<\/strong> is currently being monitored for tropical development in the eastern Gulf<\/strong>, with the potential to bring localized flooding<\/strong>, gusty winds<\/strong>, and 2 to 4 inches<\/strong> of rain (about 50 to 100 mm<\/strong>) to parts of the Florida Panhandle<\/strong>. Stay weather-aware as the system evolves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Florida \u2013 As tropical disturbance Invest 93L begins organizing in the Gulf of Mexico, officials across Northwest Florida are urging residents to stay ahead of the weather and prepare for heavy rainfall. Emergency teams in both Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties are now offering free sand to residents \u2014 part of proactive flood-readiness […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":6180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nTravis M. Nelson Park<\/strong> \u2013 4541 County Road 4<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong>
\nEquestrian Center<\/strong> \u2013 7750 Mobile Highway<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong>
\nJohn R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park<\/strong> \u2013 555 E. Nine Mile Road<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong>
\nEscambia County Road Department<\/strong> \u2013 601 Highway 297-A<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong>
\nFerry Pass Middle School<\/strong> \u2013 8355 Yancey Lane<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong> (northwest corner off Parazine Street<\/strong>)
\nBaars Field Athletic Park<\/strong> \u2013 13001 Sorrento Road<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong>
\nBrent Athletic Park<\/strong> \u2013 4711 N. W Street<\/strong>, Pensacola<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTiger Point Park<\/strong>, Gulf Breeze<\/strong>
\nPace Fire-Rescue<\/strong>, Pace<\/strong>
\nThe corner of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road<\/strong>, Milton<\/strong><\/p>\n