"Florida Braces for Tropical Storm Idalia as Sandbag Stations Open and State of Emergency Declared"
Manatee County in Florida is opening self-serve sandbag stations in preparation for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Idalia, which has prompted hurricane and storm surge watches. The sandbag stations will provide up to 10 sandbags per household, and citizens are encouraged to know their evacuation level. While there are no evacuation orders currently in place, residents should stay updated through local news stations and Manatee County Government's social media channels.