The National Weather Service has forecast rain for the Imperial Valley and residents are encouraged to be prepared.

Imperial County has sand and sandbags available at several fire stations in the Valley including Heber, Palo Verde, Niland and Winterhaven. 

The City of El Centro will provide empty sandbags at El Centro Fire Station #3 on North Waterman Avenue between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Proof of residency is required and there is a limit of 10 sandbags per household. Sandbags can be filled at three locations:

The parking lot at Fourth and Olive

The parking lot at Carlos Aguilar Park, 1575 West Pico

The parking lot at David Gomez Park at South Hope and Fairfield Drive

Residents must bring their own shovels and manpower to fill the bags.