Gainesville issues Local State of Emergency; provides sandbags

Published on August 02, 2024

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward has signed an executive order declaring a local state of emergency as a tropical disturbance advances toward Florida. City of Gainesville Emergency Management staff continue to actively monitor the system, which is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm and bring heavy rains as it moves up the Florida peninsula.

Neighbors are advised to continue to prepare themselves, their families and their property should our area experience wind and rain effects from this weather system. To receive City of Gainesville updates, sign up for email, phone and text notifications at www.alertgnv.org.

The state of emergency declaration mobilizes all resources necessary to coordinate the City’s severe weather response, including sandbags for neighbors.

• Pre-made sandbags will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Public Works Center, 405 NW 39th Ave. A limit of 10 filled sandbags per vehicle can be picked up at this location. To ease traffic flow, arrive at this location via northbound NW Sixth Street and then turn east (right) onto NW 39th Ave.
• Bags and sand to make self-serve sandbags will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Rd. Please bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags at this location. Assistance is available for those in need. A limit of 10 bags for filling will be provided per vehicle. To ease traffic flow, access the site from NE 12th Ave. via Waldo Road, or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Ave.
• For information about sandbags outside Gainesville city limits, contact your local municipality or visit the Alachua County Ready website.
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs: All parks, as well as Ironwood Golf Course, will close at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug.3, until the storm passes.
• Bus service: The City’s Regional Transit System (RTS) continues normal operations at this time. Service will be suspended once area winds reach 35 mph. Visit www.go-rts.com for additional information. 
• Solid Waste collection: Residential trash pickup continues normal operations at this time. Service is suspended once area winds reach 35 mph.
• Emergency shelters are not open at this time but information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
• Emergency management updates are available online at www.safeGNV.org.