MINNEOLA, Fla. — While most of Central Florida isn’t expected to get a direct hit from Elsa, emergency managers and residents are preparing for potentially a lot of wind and rain.

Lake County Emergency Management opened up several sandbag locations on Monday to allow homeowners to protect their properties.

From years working as a catastrophe claims adjuster, Dennis Adkisson knows why it’s important to be prepared.

“I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” Adkisson said.

That’s why he spent part of his Monday filling up sandbags.

“We have a storm door on the back and we’re right on the water, so if it starts blowing in, I’d like to try to keep as much of it out as I can,” Adkisson said.

Adkisson figures even if Elsa doesn’t cause problems for his family, he’ll at least be prepared for the rest of the season.

“I figure they won’t go bad in my garage," he laughed. "I can keep them piled up for a while.”

Lake County Public Safety Director Thomas Carpenter said his main concern is flooding. He says a lighter-than-normal rainy season so far does help.

“We could take six inches of rain before we see any issues, but again, it’s those areas — the flash flooding, the roadways, urban areas — that flood easily that folks need to be prepared for and understand they could see some flooding,” Carpenter said.

Adkisson says a recent storm was enough to get his attention about the power of wind and rain.

“It didn’t come in through the door but it got close and I was just like, you know, again I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Adkisson said.

And with his work background, he knows all too well what can happen.

“Water — if it wants in, it’s going to find a way in,” Adkisson said.