Both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are providing sand for residents living in flood prone areas as the Gulf Coast prepares for the arrival of a tropical system expected to develop into Hurricane Helene.
The system is expected to become a tropical depression within the next day or two as it moves across the Caribbean and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. AccuWeather predicts that the system will make landfall Thursday along the Florida Panhandle , near the Big Bend, as Hurricane Helene.
Marine and coastal impacts are expected to begin as early as Wednesday night. Rainfall amounts of up to 2 to 5 inches is forecasted. Locally higher amounts will be possible.
When laid properly, sandbags can be an effective tool for flooding from a rain event, but not for storm surge. Sandbags can be purchased at most local hardware or home improvement stores, typically for a low cost. For more information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org ).