Where To Find Sandbags In SWFL Ahead Of Hurricane Ian

As Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a major hurricane and a hurricane warning is now in effect for SWFL, you may be looking for sandbags to help prevent flooding at your home and here's a list on where to find them in SWFL.

Officials have announced evacuation orders and shelter openings for Lee County as Hurricane Ian approaches.

While these orders are mandatory, officials will not be going house to house, door to door and forcing you to leave. However, if you stay and something happens in the middle of the storm, you will have to wait to receive help. Wait until it is safe for officials to reach you.

Mandatory evacuations for Lee County are for Zone A and Zone B. This zone encompasses mostly low lying areas. Also those along coastal areas and the barrier islands. In addition sections along the Caloosahatchee River. Evacuation orders are also in place for parts of  Zone B which encompasses areas in Cape Coral.

Don’t know your zone? Click here.

It is recommended if you live in a mobile home or a manufactured home that you evacuate. County leaders say once those hurricane winds get up to about 45 miles an hour, those homes are not a safe place to be.

Do not put out your garbage.

If you need help, a special hotline is now open for you to call. It is 211. DO NOT call 911 for storm info. These evacuation orders and shelter openings for Lee County were announced at 7am. No time stamp was announced for completing evacuations.

There are 10 shelters opening at 9am for Lee County residents.

Sandbags SWFL Hurricane Ian  SOURCE: NBC2

Here's the latest (11:30 am Tuesday) update on storm surge from NBC2:

The Fort Myers Beach Fire District (FMBFD)- sand and bags are available behind Fort Myers Beach Town Hall

SCPFD Station 51- Sand is located on the west side of the station, next to the railroad tracks at 8013 Sanibel Blvd

Lehigh Acres- 3102 16th Street SW behind the fire station

Bonita Springs- 27701 Bonita Grande Drive- Station 24

Estero- 21500 Three Oaks Parkway- next to the fire station

North Fort Myers- 1280 Barrett Road- Station 2

Bayshore- 17350 Nalle Road (behind the fire station)

Alva- 2660 Styles Road

Pine Island/Matlacha- 5700 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia

Pre-made sandbags are available at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road

Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park- 11565 Tamiami Trail E.

Max A Hasse, Jr. Community Park- 3390 Golden Gate Boulevard West

The City of Punta Gorda- Hounds on Henry – West Henry Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

The City of North Port- Larry Thoennissen Athletic Fields (behind the George Mullen Activity Center) – 1602 Kramer Way

South LaBelle- 100 Rodeo Drive/State Road 29 South (LaBelle Rodeo Grounds)

North LaBelle- 497 County Road 78 (Bob Mason Park)

Felda- 1100 County Road 830 (Felda Fire Department)

Montura- 465 Avenida Del Sur (Montura Fire Department)

Pioneer- 2499 Henry Isles Blvd (Pioneer Fire Department)

Clewiston- 1100 Olympia Street (Health Department)

Hurricane Central - Preparedness Guide gives you the updated information you may need in the event of a hurricane. Just because 2021 was a quiet year for storms doesn't mean we can ever let our guard down. This guide is sponsored by local businesses here in SWFL. Gavin's Ace Hardware, Sean King Law, and Powerhouse Home Services.

Lee County:

Emergency Operations Center 239-533-0622

Bonita Springs YMCA – Bonita Springs

Island Coast High School – Cape Coral

Estero Recreation Center – Estero

Germain Arena – Estero

South Fort Myers High School (Pet Friendly) – Fort Myers

E. Lee County High School (Pet Friendly) – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Mirror Lakes Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Varsity Lakes Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Veterans Park Recreation Center – Lehigh Acres

Collier County

Emergency Operations Center: 239-252-3600

Highlands Elementary School – Immokalee

Immokalee Friendship House – Immokalee

Immokalee High School – Immokalee

Immokalee Middle School – Immokalee

Pinecrest Elementary School – Immokalee

Village Oaks Elementary – Immokalee

Barron Collier High School – Naples

Big Cypress Elementary – Naples

Corkscrew Elem/Middle School – Naples

Cypress Palm Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate Intermediate School – Naples

Golden Gate Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate High School – Naples

Golden Terrace Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast High School – Naples

Laurel Oak Elementary School – Naples

Lely High School – Naples

Mike Davis Elementary School

Naples High School

North collier Regional Park (Pet Friendly) – Pre-registration is required

North Naples Middle School

Oakridge Middle School

Palmetto Ridge High School – Special Needs

Pelican Marsh Elementary

Sable Palm Elementary School

St. Matthews House

Veterans Community Park

Vineyards Elementary School

Charlotte County

Emergency Operations Center: 941-833-4000

*All Charlotte County shelters are now Pet Friendly

Lemon Bay High School – Englewood

Myakka River Elementary School – Englewood

Kingsway Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Liberty Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Meadow Park Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Murdock Middle School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte High School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte Middle School – Port Charlotte

Sallie Jones Elementary School -Punta Gorda

South County Regional Park -Punta Gorda

L.A. Ainger MIddle School – Rotonda

Vineland Elementary School – Rotonda

Hendry County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-674-5400

Central Elementary School – Clewiston

Clewiston High School – Clewiston

Clewiston Middle School (Primary Shelter) – Clewiston

Eastside Elementary School – Clewiston

Westside Elementary School – Clewiston

Country Oaks Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle High School – LaBelle

LaBelle Middle School (Primary Shelter) – LaBelle

Glades County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-946-6020

Buckhead Ridge VFW – Buckhead Ridge

Maple Grove Baptist Church – Lakeport

Glades County Health Department (Special Needs) – Moore Haven

Moore Haven High School – Moore Haven

Muse Community Assn. – Muse

West Glades Elementary (Special Needs) – Muse

Desoto County

Emergency Operations Center – 863-993-4831

Desoto Middle School -Arcadia

South Florida State College (Special Needs) -Arcadia

Hurricane watch = conditions possible within the next 48 hrs.

Steps to take:

Hurricane warning = conditions are expected within 36 hrs.

Steps to take:

Follow the hurricane timeline preparedness checklist, depending on when the storm is anticipated to hit and the impact that is projected for your location.