Dear Friend,

Right now, Tropical Storm Isaias is making its way through the tropics towards Florida and is projected to reach our area by SUNDAY. Floridians know tropical storms mean strong winds and heavy rains – and while we know how to weather a storm, it’s a good idea to begin preparing NOW before a disaster hits.  

To help you and your family prepare before this storm hits, I’ve put together a list of locations offering free sand and/or sandbags:

• Daytona Beach is offering up to 10 free sandbags
  • Volusia County Correctional Facility from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. TODAY, July 31(1354 Indian Lake Road)
  • Piggotte Community Center from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. TODAY, July 31 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (504 Big Tree Rd)
  • For those who need assistance loading sandbags into vehicles, go to the Public Works facility’s gate off of Caroline Street (950 Bellevue Avenue)
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel and proof of residency
• Ormond Beach is offering free sandbags at Nova Community Center (440 N Nova Road) starting this Saturday
  • Self-serve sand hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel
• Ponce Inlet is offering up to 10 free sandbags per resident TODAY, July 31
  • Ponce Inlet Fire Station — 4680 S. Peninsula Drive
  • Ponce Inlet Community Center — 4670 S. Peninsula Drive
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel and proof of residency
• Holly Hill is offering up to 10 free sandbags per resident TODAY, July 31through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the back of the Public Utilities building (453 LPGA Blvd)
• Port Orange is offering up to 12 free sandbags per resident TODAY, July 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Sandbags and sand available at:
    • Adult Center — 4790 S Ridgewood Avenue
    • Coraci Sports Complex — 5200 Coraci Blvd
  • Bags and dirt available at:
    • Fire Station 71 — 4200 Ridgewood Avenue
    • Fire Station 72 — 6027 Central Park Blvd
    • Fire Station 73 — 1090 City Center Blvd
    • Fire Station 74 — 6701 Airport Road
    • Fire Station 75 — 1701 Town West Blvd
• New Smyrna Beach is offering up to 10 pre-filled sandbags or 15 fillable bags for residents TODAY, July 31
  • New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex — 1800 Turnbull Bay Road (open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • Field next to Maintenance Operations Headquarters — 124 Industrial Park Avenue (open 24 hours a day, sand only)
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel if you wish to fill sandbags yourself
• Deland is offering up to 10 sandbags and sand per household to residents from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting TODAY, July 31
  • Located in the parking lot south of Melching Field and along Hubbard Avenue 
  • Staff will be on site during business hours to assist if necessary
    
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel
• DeBary is offering up to 10 sandbags per household from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot (16 Colomba Road)
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel and proof of residency
• Deltona is offering up to 10 sandbags per resident to fill with sand from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. TODAY and Saturday
  • Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex — 1200 Saxon Blvd 
  • Festival Park — 191 Howland Blvd 
  • Lake Butler Recreation Complex (Skate-park) — 301 Courtland Blvd 
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel
• Oak Hill is offering up to 5 sandbags to residents TODAY, July 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall (234 US-1)
• Orange City is offering up to 10 sandbags per household TODAY, July 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Waggin’ Trail Dog Park (1201 South Leavitt Avenue)
• Edgewater has three sand pile locations open 24 hours a day for self-service sand bag filling
  • Fire Station 57 — 2628 Hibiscus Drive
  • Mango Tree Lake — 901 Mango Tree Drive
  • Airpark staging area — 1898 Airpark Road
  • NOTE: Make sure to bring your own shovel and proof of residency
• Daytona Beach Shores has free sandbags and sand available for self-service at the Community Center
  • Community Center —  3200 Bellemead Drive (free sandbags and sand)
  • City Hall — 2990 S Atlantic Avenue (free sandbags, no sand)
  • Public Safety Department — 3050 S Atlantic Avenue (free sandbags, no sand)

As the storm makes its way towards Florida and our community, please make sure you have everything you and your family need to stay safe. Not sure what to stock up on? Here’s a list of what to put in your storm preparedness kit and a plan for when a storm hits:

• Talk with household members about what you would do during emergencies.
• Plan what to do in case you are separated, and choose two places to meet - one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire, and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.
• Choose a contact person from out of the area and make sure all household members have this person’s phone number and email address. It may be easier to call long distance or text if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
• Tell everyone in the household where emergency information and supplies are kept.
• Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassable.
• Don’t forget your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a phone list of “pet friendly” motels/hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

COVID-19 TESTING UPDATE: All state-supported testing sites will be temporarily closed TOMORROW through the weekend. Click here more information about reopening dates and times.