Thousands of sandbags are being scooped up on the Central Coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Central Coast residents are working hard to get a headstart on an incoming storm.

An all-out, back-bending effort is underway with residents, friends and workers all scooping up sand from public works yards to create a defense against the storm, which is expected to bring large quantities of rain.

There is a 25 bag limit for those loading their cars and trucks with sandbags at several locations in our area.

Stacks of empty bags are at the sites in most cases, along with plastic scoopers to shovel the sand in. The rest is up to you. The bags are not pre-filled.

At the Santa Barbara yard on Yanonali Street, over 2000 sandbags had been filled by early afternoon.

The yard opened at 8 a.m.

The Montecito site at lower Manning Park was opened at 9 a.m. Last week two piles were out. Monday they were gone. Tuesday they were replenished, but the demand was very high.

The South County yard is just past the entrance to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department off Calle Real on County Road.

For a full list of sandbag locations in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, click here.