ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – To help residents prepare for hurricane season, St. Johns County gave away 12,000 free sandbags on Wednesday.
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County residents had to provide proof of residency with an ID or mailing letter, and there was a limit of 12 sandbags per car.
Officials said each sandbag weighed about 30 pounds.
But a new technology made it easier for residents to take advantage of the sandbag opportunity. Instead of a massive mound of sand for residents to shovel into bags, the bags were pre-filled.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing,” SJC resident Ann Miller said. “I really appreciate it.”
Officials said the new county machines that pre-filled the sandbags for residents helped speed things up on pick-up day.
“This is kind of a trial run for this and we’re just hoping today’s event that we have success so we could continue this in the future and hopefully get more of those machines and have these events in the future for the residents of St. Johns County,” said Shawn Tackett, supervisor of roads and bridges for the county.
Miller lives on the water and said she’s gone through multiple tropical systems and wants to be prepared.
“One of the things is preparation is key. We just wanna make sure the residents are as prepared as they can be and that they’re safe,” Tacket said.
Click here to download the SJC 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.