TAMPA -- Cities and counties across the Bay area are offering sandbags to residents ahead of a tropical wave expected to pass west of the Bay area in the Gulf this weekend, bringing plenty of rain and possibly developing into a tropical storm. A tropical storm watch is posted for the Tampa Bay area and Gulf coast from Bonita Beach to Aripeka on the Pasco-Hernando county line.
Most areas are offering residents the chance to fill up to 10 sandbags if they show ID confirming residency. Here are some locations and times:
City of Tampa: is offering sandbags at three locations starting Friday morning. Seniors and special needs residents can pick up sandbags starting at 9 am. Other Tampa residents will be able to get up to 10 sandbags filled from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. The sandbag sites are the Himes Avenue Complex at 4501 South Himes Avenue , Al Lopez Park on North Himes Avenue, and Al Barnes Park on North 32nd Street.
Hillsborough County: Friday 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa, Larry Sanders Sports Complex in Tampa, E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin and Edward Medard Park in Plant City.
Pinellas County: The county's self-service sandbag center is open Friday till 6 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's next to the Solid Waste Center on 28th Street North (2855 109th Ave N., St. Petersburg).
St. Petersburg: The year-round location at 1744 9th Avenue North is closed. Emergency full-service locations are operating until 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday (depending on weather) at Lake Maggiore Park Shelter Area: 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. S, Northeast Park East Baseball Field Parking Lot: 955 62nd Ave. N, and Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot Park: 2331 60th St. N. Self service locations are open through Sunday at Dell Homes Park: 2741 22nd St. S, Fossil Park Northern Most Parking Lot: 6875 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N and Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot: 2800 75th St. N.
Gulfport: 49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th Street South, Friday noon-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. until weather forces a stop.
Dunedin: Pre-filled at the City Highlander Park lot, 903 Michigan Blvd., Friday noon-7 p.m. Once pre-filled bags are gone, sand and bags are available and it's DIY.
Pasco County: Magnolia Valley Golf Course, 7223 Massachusetts Avenue, New Port Richey, Pasco County Public Works, 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio. Both open 24/7.
Also two locations open sunrise to sunset, Friday through Sunday. Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson and Pasco Fire Station #29, 6907 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills.
Dade City: Former police building, 38042 Pasco Avenue.
Port Richey: Police Department, 6333 Ridge Road, Port Richey, FL.
Hernando County: Linda Pedersen Park, 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609, Anderson Snow Park 1360 Anderson Snow Rd., Spring Hill, FL 34609 Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd. Ridge Manor, FL 33523
Manatee County: Sand and bags will be available beginning at noon Friday at Coquina Beach (near the Bus Loop) at 1507 S. Gulf Dr. in Bradenton Beach, Lincoln Park at 501 17th Street East in Palmetto. Also at the Rubonia Community Center at 1309 72nd Street East in Palmetto and the Myakka City Community Center at 10600 Wauchula Road. There will also be a self-serve location set up just south of the former Manatee County Utilities Headquarters at 4410 66th Street W. in Bradenton. More information at www.mymanatee.org/sandbags.
Bradenton: Public Works Annex Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Residents are instructed to use 9 th Ave W to enter into the area behind the Annex, which is located at 1411 9th St. W.
Polk County: Sandbag sites open Saturday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harpe Park, 500 W. Carter Road. Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegany Road, Kissimmee 34759
Bartow: The Bartow Fire Station, 110 E Church St., until 7pm and again from 7am – 7pm on Saturday. The bags can be filled at the Public Works site at 505 Mill Ave.
Listen below to an interview with Mikah Collins of Hillsborough County (2023) on how to properly deploy your sandbags.
Photo: Canva