TAMPA, Fla. – Sandbag pickup locations are open ahead of Tropical Storm Milton, which became a named storm Saturday. We will update as additional locations become available.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the following two sandbag sites will be open for residents and businesses who would like to fill sandbags to protect their properties.

• Himes Avenue Complex (4501 S Himes Avenue, Tampa)
• Al Barnes Park (2902 N 32nd Street, Tampa)

PINELLAS COUNTY

In St PetersburgFull-service and self-service sandbag operations will be open Sunday, October 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in preparation for possible weather impacts next week. The city said it would not be able to operate the full-service locations during rain, thunderstorms and lightning. Locations may be closed until the weather forecast is available.

Self-service locations
Dell Homes Park – 2741 22nd St. S
Fossil Park Northern Most Parking Lot – 6875 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N
Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot – 2800 75th St. N

Full-service locations
Lake Maggiore Park Shelter Area – 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. S
Northeast Park East Baseball Field Parking Lot – 955 62nd Ave. Nope
Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot Park – 2331 60th St. N

For unregistered persons Pinellas County For residents only, the following sandbag locations will be available Sunday, October 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please note: Parks are closed to the public during sandbag operating hours. Residents are asked to bring their own shovel.

John Chesnut Park, 2200 East Lake Road S., Palm Harbor
Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave, Seminole

Please note that sandbags are only effective in slow-moving water no more than 15 inches deep. Residents with sandbags from Hurricane Helene are encouraged to reuse them.

Residents outside of unincorporated Pinellas County should check with each municipality to confirm the latest information on sandbag locations
Availability. Learn how to use sandbags and what other alternatives may be available at disaster.pinellas.gov.

In GulfportSelf-service sandbag distribution begins at Hoyt Field (23rd Avenue and 57th Street South) on Sunday, October 6, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. There is a 10 bag limit and proof of residency may be required.

Residents with sandbags from Hurricane Helene are encouraged to reuse them. Please note that sandbags are only effective in slow-moving water no more than 15 inches deep.

POLK COUNTY

Polk County Sandbag Sites will be open to residents at the locations listed below on October 6th and 7th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m

The locations of the sandbag sites are:

• Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harpe Park, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
• Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
• Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
• Frost Proof – 350 County Road 630A, Frost Proof
• Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
• Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St SW, Dundee
• Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee 34759

A maximum of 10 pre-filled sandbags will be distributed to each household address to prevent water from entering the home. You must bring a driver’s license showing your local address.

Residents in flood-prone areas are being asked to sandbag their homes. To protect yourself from water damage, follow these simple sandbagging techniques. At the point where water can enter a structure:

• If you are not working on concrete, dig a small trench just deep enough to reach below the surface of the soil. The trench should be far enough from the entrance to allow room for placement of optional submersible pumps (sump pumps) in the protected area. The edge of the visqueen should be placed in the trench as the bottom layer.

• Place the first row of sandbags in the trench, fold Visqueen over the top of the first row, place a second row of bags on top, fold Visqueen over that again, place a third row of bags on top, and so on. This creates an “S” pattern with the visqueen.

Depending on the size of the barrier, submersible pumps (sump pumps) can be used. The barrier will not completely prevent water from entering the protected area; However, with proper placement of bags, visqueen, and sump pumps, the water can be removed quickly in most cases.