As Hurricane Milton starts its journey toward Florida, officials have opened sandbag locations to help citizens prepare for the impacts.  

The following is a list of locations and times currently available for Alachua and Gilchrist counties.  

Alachua County 

The county will have sandbags available at Wayside Park (11855 NW U.S. 441) from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday. The county plans to distribute sandbags on Tuesday as well, but times have not yet been announced.  

Alachua County has also lifted volume limits on yard trash going to the five collection centers. Leading up to Hurricane Milton, citizens can take any yard debris to the Leveda Brown Environmental Park (5115 NE 63rd Ave., Gainesville) free of charge.  

The environmental park is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Gainesville 

The city of Gainesville has self-serve sandbags at Citizens Field and pre-prepared sandbags at the Public Works facility (405 N W 39th Avenue). The sandbags will be available from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday.  

To manage traffic, the city is asking citizens to drive north on NW Sixth Street before turning right onto NW 39th Avenue and then into the facility.  

Gainesville’s sandbag operations will also run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesday.  

High Springs 

High Springs residents can get sandbags from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, 17380 NW US HWY 441. Citizens should bring their own shovel as it’s a self-serve site.  

Hawthorne 

Hawthorne residents can make sandbags at the Hawthorne Wastewater Treatment Plant (23016 SE 65th Lane) while supplies last. 

Micanopy 

Sandbags will be available at 706 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy (behind the Town Hall building). 

Gilchrist County 

Gilchrist County will have self-serve sandbags starting at 5 p.m. on Monday at the following locations. Residents should bring their own shovels. 

• Southeast Park (SE 2nd Street, Trenton, FL 32693) 

• Gilchrist County Road Department (1770 S HWY 129, Bell, FL 32619) 

• Southeast Voting Precinct (6980 SE 70th Ave, Trenton, FL 32693) 

• Emergency Management EOC, behind the building (3250 N US 129, Bell, FL 32619)  

Gilchrist County will also have tarps available on Tuesday starting at 8 a.m. Tarps will be at the Gilchrist County Road Department (1770 S HWY 129, Bell, FL 32619), Gilchrist County Building Department (209 SE 1st Street, Trenton, FL 32693) and behind the Emergency Management EOC building (3250 N US 129, Bell, FL 32619).  

You can find updates on the Gilchrist County Emergency Management Facebook page. 

Editor’s note: This page will be updated with information when it becomes available.