Heavy rains expected

MILTON — With a tropical system trying to form and move into the Gulf of Mexico over the next couple of days, the latest update from the National Weather Service in Mobile indicates our area will receive heavy rains beginning Saturday morning through Tuesday.

There is the potential for more than six inches in some areas — many of which are already well-saturated after the recent rains. Those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas should pay special attention and make preparations now.

The county's public works department has sand available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following locations:

• Leisure Street in Holley by the Sea
• Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze, 1370 Tiger Point Lane
• Pace Fire-Rescue in Pace, 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd.
• The corner of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road in Milton

Bring your own sandbags and shovel. Bags can be purchased for less than 50 cents a piece at your local hardware store. For more information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org).

While sandbags can help mitigate to an extent, buying flood insurance is your best protection against flood loss. However, flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

For more information on current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob. Sign up for local weather and other disaster alerts at www.alertsantarosa.com. For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency or pick up a disaster guide at any Santa Rosa County office.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Heavy rains expected