Several counties are hosting sandbag fill up locations ahead of Hurricane Ian.
Hillsborough
Hillsborough County Sandbag Locations Will End Operations on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2022) – Hillsborough County sandbag locations will end operations on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. due to the imminent approach of Hurricane Ian.
The following locations will be open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, with intermittent closures due to weather conditions:
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626
Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the county, and a driver’s license or utility bill will serve as proper identification. Residents should expect long lines at sandbag locations.
The City of Tampa is activating three sandbag distribution sites beginning Sunday.
The sites below will be open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM until Tuesday.
Himes Avenue Complex
4501 S. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33611
Al Barnes Park
2902 N. 32nd Street, Tampa, FL 33605
MacFarlane Park
1700 N MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607
Site between Maxwell and Renfrew
The City of Tampa will have bags, sand and shovels available. There will also be volunteers available to help those who cannot fill their own sandbags.
Tampa residents interested in receiving sandbags must show identification verifying residence within the city limits. A valid driver's license, utility bill or electric bill will serve as appropriate identification. There is a ten bag limit.
In addition, the City of Tampa requests that residents with a storm drain on their property check to ensure that the drain is clear of all debris including leaves and trash.
Hillsborough County is making sandbags available again on Monday, Sept. 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at these locations:
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City, FL 33567
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL 33626
Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per vehicle. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the County; a driver’s license or utility bill will serve as proper identification.
Hernando
A limited supply of sand and sandbags will be available Sunday, September 25, 2022 at 12pm at the following locations. This self-serve sandbag site. Please bring your own shovel.
Linda Pedersen Park
6300 Shoal Line Blvgd.
Spring Hill, FL 34609
Anderson Snow Park
1360 Anderson Snow Rd.
Spring Hill, FL 34609
Pasco - NOTE: The county said just after 10 a.m. Tuesday that sandbags are no longer available.
Free sand and sandbags are available to Pasco County residents at the following locations during certain weather events:
- East: Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn): 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
- West: Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Avenue, New Port Richey
Remember to bring your shovel! Pasco sandbag locations are self-service.
Please monitor your local news or radio for information and instructions on evacuation routes and shelter locations if needed. The Pasco County website will also remain updated at all times.
Pinellas County
Sandbags are available to Pinellas County residents at the following locations:
- St. Pete: Sandbags will be available Monday, 8 a.m. to sundown, and Tuesday 8 a.m. until weather conditions permit, to city residents at: Lake Maggiore, 3601 Dr. MLK Jr. St. S 2. Northeast Park, 875 62nd Avenue NE 3. Northwest Pool, 2331 60th Street N. Residents should provide proof of St. Petersburg residency and will be limited to 10 sandbags.
- Dunedin: Sandbags will be available in the City of Dunedin at the Highlander Pool parking lot, 903 Michigan Blvd, beginning Sunday from 8 am - 6 pm. The sandbag site is opened to City of Dunedin residents and business owners with proof of residency: driver's license or recent utility bill. There is a limit of 15 bags per resident or business owner. Sand, sandbags and shovels are available at the site. Assistance will be provided for those with special needs. This self-serve sandbag site will remain open until weather conditions begin to deteriorate. Please call the Public Services Division at 727-298-3232 or 727-298-3233 for further information.
- Gulfport: Sandbags are available Saturday for City of Gulfport Florida businesses and residents. Arrive prepared with proof of address. 1617 49th St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707
- Oldsmar: The city has run out of supplies and closed the sandbag stations.
- Clearwater: Sand and bags will be available Sunday at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, located at 2450 Drew St. City workers will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist those residents who need it. After that, as long as supplies last, sand will be available to fill bags on your own. This will be a self-service location, so please bring your own shovel. Do not overfill bags. Fill sand bags 1/2 to 2/3 full and tie at the top so bags will lay flat when put in place. Overfilled bags and bags tied too low leave gaps in a sandbag stack. The city's storm water team wants to remind residents that sandbags do not protect people and property from storm surge.
- INDIAN ROCKS: Beginning Monday at noon the City of Indian Rocks Beach will be providing free sand and sandbags for IRB property owners. Proof of residency is required (Driver’s License or Utility Bill). Distribution is limited to 20 bags per address and are available on a first come, first serve basis. A distribution station will be established at Kolb Park at 1507 Bay Palm Boulevard. The station will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Monday. The station will remain open during these hours and based on remaining supply may be available again the following morning until all sand and/or bags have been distributed.
Sandbag distribution locations open Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. or as supplies last:
John Chesnut Sr. Park: 2200 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor
Walsingham Park: 12615 102nd Ave, Seminole
Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St N, St. Petersburg
Polk County
Sandbag site locations are:
- Mulberry – 900 NE 5th St., Mulberry, (863) 519-4734
- Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland (863) 815-6701
- Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade (863) 285-6588
- Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof (863) 635-7879
- Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale (863) 965-5524
- Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee, (863) 421-3367
- Poinciana Park - corner of Lake Hatchineha Road and Marigold Ave.
A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household to help prevent water intrusion into the home.
Manatee County
Manatee County Public Works Department is making sandbags available at the following self-serve locations beginning Saturday, Sept. 24:
- Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd, Bradenton
- Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto
- Myakka Community Center, 10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City
Pallets of pre-made bags will also be available at the following locations Saturday, Sept. 24:
- Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (Northwest Parking lot)
- Bayfront Park, 310 North Bay Blvd., Anna Maria (North end by the recycling center)
- Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach (South Bayside near the guardrail)
On Sunday, Sept. 25, additional full-service sandbag distribution will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
- G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W, Bradenton
- Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto
Citrus County
In preparation for Tropical Storm Ian, two county sandbag sites will be opened on Monday, September 26, at 8:00 a.m. The county will announce additional times and dates as needed:
- 4508 S Grandmarch Ave, Homosassa, FL (Off of Grover Cleveland)
- 7490 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Crystal River, FL(SR44, across from Dan’s Clam Stand)
Sarasota County
Sarasota County sandbag operations will take place at:
- Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th Street, Sarasota.
- Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota.
- South County Fleet, 4571 SR 776/Englewood Road, Venice.
Shovels and bags will be available on site, limit 10 sandbags per vehicle. Sandbag operations are also planned for Monday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Be aware that changes in weather pattern could impact sandbag operation times.
In Venice, the city Public Works Department will have a self-filling station from noon to 6 p.m. at Wellfield Park off Pinebrook Road.
These are self-filling stations. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household while supplies last.
Shovels will be provided. City staff will be on hand.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own bags in case the city’s supply run out, as well as their own shovels to expedite the process.