[ Watch CBS47 Action News Jax for the latest on Tropical Storm Colin ]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Colin is in the Gulf of Mexico heading toward Florida.
The system will progress northeast and bring heavy rain to the Florida peninsula Monday and early Tuesday as it makes landfall north of Tampa near the Big Bend area.
Duval County Public Schools said after-school activities are canceled Monday due to anticipated severe weather from Tropical Storm Colin. However, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said graduation ceremonies will proceed as scheduled.
City of Jacksonville preparations
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry asked for all non-essential city employees to go home at 3 p.m. The city's public works department has been preparing flood-prone areas.
Bridges are being monitored, but at this time, none are closed. If red lights are out, citizens are asked to treat them as if they are a four-way stop.
Paul McElroy of JEA said outages are to be expected during the storm. If people see downed power lines, call 911 and do not touch them.
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State of Emergency declared in Florida
Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Monday for 34 counties in the state of Florida in preparation in Tropical Storm Colin. The areas include Duval, Clay, Columbia, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Union, Bradford and Baker counties.
Scott said about 6,000 National Guardsman are activated.
Related Link: View the Executive Order from Scott
Sandbags
Residents in the city of Starke, Hampton, Lawtey and Brooker in Bradford County can prepare for possible flooding Monday afternoon. Sandbag operations have been set up in at the City of Starke Purchasing Yard on Orange and Washington streets, according to Bradford County Emergency Management. Sandbags will be given out at noon with a 40 bag limit per vehicle.
St. Johns County is providing free sandbags to residents in response to Tropical Storm Colin. The sand and bags are available between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. For additional information call 904-209-0246.
St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver said Monday morning that flooding is the No. 1 concern in St. Augustine. The issue is with the city’s old drainage system, which can get overwhelmed.
Shaver said she’s trying to get a pump installed like one similar to the one in New Orleans.
Residents must provide their own transportation and shovels, and will be responsible for filling their own bags, officials said. There is a maximum allocation of 50 bags per person.
St. Johns County Locations:
- Ron Parker Park - 607 Old Beach Road.
- Sims Pit - 536 S. Holmes Boulevard.
- Town of Hastings Town Hall - 6195 S. Main Street, behind the building.
- Mills Field - 1805 Racetrack Road, in the overflow parking area.
- Palm Valley - Under the Palm Valley Bridge on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The First Alert Weather team is tracking Tropical Storm Colin, visit the First Alert Weather Hurricane Center for the latest.
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