Residents utilize sandbags before 'bomb cyclone' impacts Norwalk

NORWALK — Norwalk is offering residents sandbags to protect their property before a "bomb cyclone" impacts the city on Thursday.

A flood advisory is in effect until 6 pm on Thursday, according to the AccuWeather forecast. Community members are preparing to defend their homes from water damage by collecting sandbags from Norwalk Fire Station #20 at 12110 Adoree St.

Austin Hall serves as a firefighter at Station #20. He recalled needing sandbags to defend his home from water damage when he was younger.

"Our houses were below grade, and we didn't have sandbags in our house. Our garage would flood six feet deep and start going into the house and causing damage," Hall said. "Sandbags are a huge help. Putting sandbags along the driveway to the street blocks that water."

He explained that firefighters are available to answer residents' questions regarding where the best place is to put their sandbags, depending on their home.

Evu Villanaro and his family live in Norwalk and visited the station Wednesday afternoon to retrieve the sandbags.

"We have the construction of a second unit in the backyard," Villanaro said. "Last month, the rain almost got inside and into the wires. So we're getting the sandbags early to protect the construction."

While the bags are provided at the fire station, the sand to fill them is provided at different locations, with the largest deposit at the Norwalk Aquatics Pavilion at 12301 Sproul St. However, shovels and digging equipment are not provided to assist residents when they fill their bags.

Gilardo Aquino was discouraged after learning that tools needed to be provided. He wanted the bags to divert water away from his Norwalk residence.

"I don't have any shovels with me, so that makes it even worse," Aquino said as he retrieved bags from the Norwalk Fire Station. "It can be inconvenient to come over here to get bags and then go somewhere else to get that sand."

Aquino expressed his gratitude towards the city for providing the resources to protect his home but said having pre-made sandbags would be very helpful moving forward.