Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency as the tropical system Invest 97L approaches Florida, signaling potential severe weather conditions for the state. According to FOX 13 Meteorologist Nash Rhodes, Invest 97L, which was situated over Hispaniola as of Thursday, has a 70 percent chance of developing into a more significant storm within the next week. Although the system only has a 20 percent chance of forming over the next 48 hours due to obstacles such as wind shear, Saharan dust, and mountainous terrain, it is expected to bring substantial rainfall to Florida.

The declaration of the state of emergency highlights the possibility of at least 12 inches of rainfall across much of Florida over the next seven days. This significant amount of rain raises concerns about potential flooding and the need for residents to take necessary precautions. The exact path and intensity of Invest 97L remain uncertain at this point, as the system’s interaction with Cuba’s terrain could influence its development and trajectory. If the storm reaches the threshold to be named, it will be called Debby.

In anticipation of heavy rainfall and flooding, Hillsborough County has set up sandbag distribution locations to help residents protect their properties. Sandbags will be available to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 2, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, at the following four locations:

1. Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567
2. E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
3. Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626
4. Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619

Residents of Hillsborough County are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family and must provide ID verifying their residency in the county. The designated parks and sports complexes will be closed to the public during sandbag operations to facilitate distribution.

In addition to Hillsborough County, the city of Tampa is also offering sandbags to residents at the following locations:

1. Himes Avenue Complex, 4501 South Himes Avenue
2. Al Barnes Park, 2902 North 32nd Street
3. Al Lopez Park, 4810 North Himes Avenue

These Tampa sandbag sites will be open exclusively to seniors and individuals with disabilities on Friday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The locations will then open to the general public from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Each household can collect up to 10 sandbags, and new sandbag-filling machines will be available to expedite the process.