South Florida cities offering free sandbags to residents ahead of Hurricane Isaias

DORAL, Fla. – As Hurricane Isaias continues on its path toward South Florida, cities are offering free sandbags to residents to prepare for the storm.

Here is a list of cities holding sandbag distributions on Friday:

DORAL UPDATE: The City of Doral ran out of sand around noon at both locations

Residents were expected to be able to pick up sandbags at Doral Central Park at 3000 NW 87th Ave. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or anytime next to Downtown Doral Park at 8395 NW 53rd St., however both locations ran out of sand around noon.

Shovels and bags were available on-site to those who made it out early before the sites closed.

Residents pick up sandbags in Doral. (WPLG)

HALLANDALE BEACH

The City of Hallandale Beach will be distributing free sandbags starting at 9 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of the Big Easy Casino at 831 N Federal Hwy.

The City will provide the sand on a first come, first serve basis and anticipates being able to give out at least 1,500 sandbags until supplies run out.

Sand will be for Hallandale Beach residents and businesses only. Each resident/business may take up to 10 sandbags.

NORTH BAY VILLAGE

The North Bay Village Public Works Department will be distributing sandbags from 9 a.m. to noon Friday for single-family homes and first floor apartment/condo residents, and noon until supplies last for all others.

The sandbag distribution will be held at the Public Works yard at 1841 Galleon Street.

Sandbags are available to North Bay Village residents only with ID. Residents may take up to five bags per resident.

“Can’t take this lightly, we’ve seen it before,” one resident, Kevin Vericker, told Local 10 News. “We do often get flooding in the lower lying parts of Treasure Island, so I need this to block my doors.”

Residents who came out to the sand distribution said they feel it’s better to be safe than sorry.

PALMETTO BAY

The Palmetto Bay Neighbors Alliance is holding a free sand distribution at Coral Reef Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

The park is located at 7895 SW 152nd St.

Residents are asked to bring their own bags if possible as the number of bags at the site is limited.

OTHER STORM PREPARATIONS

Canals are being lowered ahead of the storm’s arrival and streets are being cleaned.

And in the stores, fully stocked shelves are back to where they were when the pandemic first started.

Home improvement stores also have plenty of generators and plywood, and supermarkets are full of the non-perishables that you would normally stock up on ahead of a hurricane.

But with the pandemic still going on, things are obviously a bit harder. Store lines are expected to be longer Friday because people need to socially distance and certain things, like paper goods and cleaning products, may still be in low supply.

“What’s it going to look like if we get big impacts from a large storm? I mean, that throws a lot of wrenches into the equation as far as people being able to maintain their social distancing,” North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham said.

The main message leaders across South Florida are trying to get across is that it’s better to prepare now than later.

Vericker said he’s getting ahead of the game.

“I made sure I had enough fuel, putting all the documents in the right place, even having an evacuation plan, even though I don’t think we will need it,” he said.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.