Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties Offering Free Sand Ahead Of Tropical Depression Two

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- As Tropical Depression Two strengthens into a tropical storm, both Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties are offering residents free sand to help protect flood-prone properties.

Escambia County officials say sand is available now on a first-come, first-served basis at eight locations across the county. Those sites include Baars Field Athletic Park on Sorrento Road, Brent Athletic Park on North W Street, Don Sutton Park in Molino, the Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway, the Escambia County Road Department on Highway 297-A, Ferry Pass Middle School on Yancey Lane, John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park on East Nine Mile Road, and Travis M. Nelson Park in Century. At Ferry Pass Middle School, sand will be located on the northwest corner of the property along Parazine Street.

Santa Rosa County is also making sand available at four locations: the corner of Leisure Street and Citrus Drive in Navarre, Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze, Pace Fire-Rescue in Pace, and the corner of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road in Milton.

All sand locations in both counties are open twenty-four hours a day. Residents are asked to bring their own sandbags and shovels, which can be purchased at most local hardware and home improvement stores for a low cost.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Two is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later today, with two to four inches of rainfall forecast for some areas. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for portions of Escambia County.

Officials caution that while sandbags can help protect against flooding from heavy rainfall when used correctly, they are not effective against storm surge. Residents can find guidance on how to properly fill and stack sandbags through the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes at www.flash.org.

Officials also encourage residents in flood-prone areas to consider flood insurance, noting that most policies require a thirty-day waiting period before coverage begins.