FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - South Florida prepares for tropical storm impacts from Hurricane Milton as residents stop by sandbag distribution locations before the hurricane’s heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Crews in Miami-Dade County and Broward County continued working Tuesday at sandbag distribution locations ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival on the west coast.
Both counties are under a tropical storm warning and flood watch through Thursday.
On Tuesday morning, Tamiami Park in Southwest Miami-Dade saw long lines of cars as residents arrived early to pick up sandbags.
“It’s super important just because we don’t really know how much rain is going to come our way with this hurricane,” said Ana Jiron. “So it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Around 70,000 sandbags have been distributed in Miami-Dade County.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told residents what is in store with Milton’s arrival.
“Our community will be affected by the outer bands of the storm. We are now under a tropical storm warning. The most likely impacts here in Miami-Dade will include heavy rainfall, localized flooding, sustained tropical force winds at least 49 miles per hour, starting as early as [Tuesday],” she said. “We’ve already successfully distributed over 70,000 sandbags to residents in need and the majority of these sites have already closed or are going to close shortly. Based on the enormous demand.”
In Miami Beach, volunteers like James Brocco help load up residents’ cars with sandbags.
“We’re just here to get some sandbags just in case the storm veers this way. I’m on the ground floor, so here on South Beach. Just don’t want water coming into my house,” he said.
Originally from California, Xochilt & Yuriko now live in Miami Beach and picked up a couple of sandbags before the city’s distribution wraps up for the day.
“We live right here. So we thought it was necessary. We’re from California, so this is our first time experiencing anything like this. So we just wanted to be cautious,” said Xochilt.
In Fort Lauderdale, residents are looking out for one another by helping fill up sandbags at Mills Pond Park.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis updated locals and visitors on the city’s efforts during Tuesday’s press conference at Mills Pond Park.
“City public work crews are in the field as we speak. They’re evaluating hotspots and areas of concern in low-lying areas. They also have pre-deployed assets like vacuum trucks and temporary pumps. These steps should help reduce any flooding and keep the roads passable,” he said.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan is guiding residents on how to properly use the sandbags.
“You don’t want to be filling the sandbags all the way to the top. The sandbag should only be filled to about two-thirds level, so they can make a nice square block. Also sandbags just alone aren’t really enough of a deterrent for water, you want to have a barrier behind them. Whether it’s a tarp or whether it’s Visqueen or heavy garbage bag,” said Gollan.
The latest forecast scales down heavy rainfall, but with residents across South Florida suffering from flooding in the past, residents like Clifton Sharp, who goes by Joe, are not taking any chances.
Joe and his son, Jordan, stopped at Mills Pond Park to fill up sandbags for his mother-in-law’s home.
“It flood probably two feet of water in the house. Trying to secure it this time,” said Joe. “First time, my mother-in-law’s house flooded the last time, so I’m trying to secure it.”
7News reporter Robbin Simmons made sure to pass along Gollan’s tips to Joe and Jordan.
“You only need to fill it about two-thirds full and that you need a tarp. Do you have a tarp as well,” said 7News reporter Robbin Simmons.
“Yes, I do,” said Joe.
“It’s kind of like training for when I get my own home. So it’s preparing me for other natural disasters that may come,” said Jordan.
Amanda Stern has lived in Fort Lauderdale’s low-lying Edgewood neighborhood for 11 years and said flooding has gotten worse in her neighborhood.
“It’s gotten worse. Every year, last year when we had that really bad flood, the water was up to, he [neighbor] wasn’t here, but the water was up to the door handle,” said Stern.
Her downstairs neighbor, who declined to be on camera, told 7News he learned the hard way about the flooding and now his landlord has his entryway packed tight.
Several sandbag distribution locations in Miami-Dade County have been closed due to running out of sandbags because of the high demand.
For the complete lists of locations in Broward County and Miami-Dade County near you, click here.
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