Bradenton Makes Sandbags Available

BRADENTON, FL — Bradenton residents who want to batten down the hatches just in case of what Hurricane Matthew may throw the area’s way are getting a little help. The city has announced the opening of a sandbag location for Thursday and Friday.

Sandbags will be made available until 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Public Works building yard, 705 13th Ave. W., the city wrote in an email to media. There is a 10 bag limit per resident. So far, the city reports giving out about 400 sandbags.

Manatee County has also declared a local state of emergency. It is asking residents in mobile and manufactured homes to voluntarily evacuate. The entire county is under a tropical storm watch, which means tropical storm conditions are possible over the next day or so.

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As of the National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. Oct. 6 update, Hurricane Matthew was positioned about 30 miles south-southwest of Nassau, Bahamas. The system was moving northwest at 12 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.

“Additional strengthening is expected today, and Matthew is forecast to be a Category 4 hurricane as it approaches the east coast of Florida,” the hurricane center’s report said. Hurricane-force winds extended out up to 40 miles Thursday morning. Tropical-storm force winds extended out 160 miles, forecasters said.

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