Update 5:13 p.m.: The City of Tallahassee will open additional sandbag locations Monday, Oct. 8. Withrop Park and Messer Park are presently open. The additional sites are:
- Tekesta Park, at Tekesta Drive and Deer Lake Road in Killearn Lakes (County)
- Apalachee Regional Park (Landfill), 7550 Apalachee Parkway (County)
- J. Lee Vause, 6024 Old Bainbridge Road (County)
- At the intersection of Oak Ridge at Ranchero roads (County)
County locations will be staffed, and all residents will need to bring their own shovel. Sand, bags and ties will be available for public use. Residents are asked to take no more than 20 bags (25 at City sites) so as to allow others to prepare. Staff will monitor the sites to replenish as needed.
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Original Story: Floridians from the Emerald Coast to the Nature Coast are urged to review their hurricane plan and be prepared to act on it within a couple of days. Tropical Storm Michael formed over the western Caribbean Sunday morning, and the National Hurricane Center says it could become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday.
Early forecasts then call for it to make landfall somewhere between Mobile, Alabama and Cedar Key, Florida.
The City of Tallahassee has opened two sandbag locations, one at Messer Park and the other at Winthrop Park.
Tropical Storm Michael is expected to make landfall as a hurricane with impacts to be felt in the Big Bend as Tuesday morning.
"While the impacts are still uncertain, our area could experience increased wind activity and heavy rainfall, which could cause localized flooding and downed trees. City departments are prepared to respond as needed, and residents are encouraged to prepare as well," the city writes in a statement.
Governor Rick Scott is preparing to speak within the hour and is expected to declare a state of emergency.
Check back later on for more updates on this story.