Just two weeks into hurricane season, hundreds of Coastal Bend residents lined up hours before a free sandbag giveaway Saturday, exhausting the city’s supply more than an hour before the event was scheduled to end.

The City of Corpus Christi’s sandbag distribution at Cabaniss Athletic Complex was scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to noon. However, residents began lining up around 6 a.m., prompting crews to open distribution early at 7:30 a.m.

Even with the early start, city crews handed out all 8,000 available sandbags to nearly 1,000 vehicles by approximately 10:45 a.m.

The turnout came despite no active tropical development in the Gulf, highlighting how many residents are already preparing early in a hurricane season that officially began June 1.

While residents loaded up on sandbags, local retailers said they hope people continue preparing now rather than waiting for a storm to enter the Gulf.

“As soon as they say that something’s coming, they will be here,” said Angel Solis, an associate at Sutherlands.

Solis, who has spent more than two decades in the home improvement industry and a lifetime in the Coastal Bend, said he has seen firsthand the destruction hurricanes can cause.

“One time my aunt, her garage went above her house and ended up in her front yard and it was during Hurricane Celia here in Corpus Christi,” Solis said.

He recommends residents make protecting their homes a priority before a storm threatens the area. That includes purchasing at least three-quarter-inch plywood and the clips needed to secure it over windows.

“Any object that gets picked up for the winds over like 60 or 70 miles (per hour) will go break right through your window and hurt someone or damage your property,” Solis said.

He also encourages residents to think ahead about power outages by budgeting for generators before demand spikes later in the season.

“Start saving money for one. If you know what the prices are, you can start putting money away to try and get it by July or August,” he said.

Even residents who already own generators should make sure they are ready to go, according to Jon Groves, manager of Interstate Batteries.

“Pretty much everything used during a hurricane are items that don’t get used year-round,” Groves said. “If you haven’t started your generator for a year, it’s a good chance that battery is going to be dead, and it’s not going to fire it up when you need it.”

Solis also recommends keeping a hand-crank emergency radio on hand. The device he demonstrated doubles as a flashlight and phone charger and does not require batteries.

“You don’t need batteries, all you do is wind it, and you can even charge your phone with it, and use an AM/FM radio,” he said.

For both men, the message was simple: don’t wait.

“When it happens, it’s too late. Come get your stuff right now,” Groves said.

Corpus Christi Emergency Management Coordinator Jace Johnson echoed that advice.

“It’s very important not to let our guard down during hurricane season, because it only takes one,” Johnson said. “Now is the time to have an emergency plan for you and your family, including communication and evacuation plans.”

The city has scheduled a second free sandbag distribution event for June 27 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cabaniss Athletic Complex, or until supplies run out.

According to the city, residents will again be limited to eight free sandbags per vehicle. Officials said they plan to make more sandbags available after Saturday’s strong turnout.