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Sandbags are being made available across the Tampa area ahead of an expected Hurricane Helene

Stack of sandbags in the back of a truck bed
Daylina Miller
/
WUSF
Counties across the greater Tampa Bay region are making sandbags available ahead of what is expected to become a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this week.

Gov. DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 41 counties, including several in the Tampa Bay area, ahead of what could become a major hurricane.

Counties across the greater Tampa Bay region are making sandbags available ahead of what is expected to become a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this week.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 41 counties ahead of the system. It includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.

Here are the sandbag locations:

Tampa

The following locations will open Tuesday for senior residents and Wednesday for all residents from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Himes Avenue Complex, 4501 S. Himes Ave.
  • Al Barnes Park, 2902 N. 32nd St.
  • Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave.

Hillsborough County

Sandbags will be available starting Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City
  • E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin
  • Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa
  • Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa

Manatee County

The county is opening additional self-service sites (unless otherwise noted) ahead of the storm. Here are the locations:

  • Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd, Bradenton
  • Blackstone Park, 2112 14th Avenue, Palmetto
  • Buffalo Creek Park, 7550 69th St E, Palmetto
  • Dam Road, 1505 Dam Road, Bradenton (pre-filled sandbags)
  • Greenbrook Park, 6655 Greenbrook Blvd, Lakewood Ranch
  • Lakewood Ranch Park, 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton
  • Myakka Community Center, 10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City
  • Palmetto Youth Center, 501 17th St W, Palmetto (hours TBD)
  • Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St E, Palmetto
  • Rye Preserve. 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish
  • Stormwater Facility, 5511 39th St E, Bradenton

Sarasota County

Self-service sandbags will be available Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Rd., Sarasota
  • Ed Smith Stadium (parking lot), 2700 12th St., Sarasota
  • South County Fleet Services, 4571 State Road 776/Englewood Rd., Venice

Pasco County

Self-serve sandbags are available 24 hours a day at the following locations:

  • Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn), 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
  • Magnolia Valley Golf Course, 7223 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey

These sites will be open from sunrise to sunset until further notice:

  • Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
  • Pasco Fire Rescue Station #29: 6907 Dairy Rd, Zephyrhills

Hernando County

The county began opening sandbag locations Monday on a limited basis, and will be opening more starting Tuesday.

Each of these locations will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

  • Linda Pedersen Park, 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill
  • Anderson Snow Park, 1360 Anderson Snow Rd., Spring Hill
  • Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor
  • Spring Lake Methodist Church, 4191 Spring Lake Hwy., Brooksville

Polk County

A maximum of 10 sandbags will be available Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Loyce E. Harpe Park, 500 W. Carter Rd., Mulberry
  • 8970 N. Campbell Rd., Lakeland
  • 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
  • 350 County Rd. 630A, Frostproof
  • 1701 Holt Rd., Auburndale
  • 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
  • 5109 Allegheny Rd., Kissimmee

St. Petersburg

The following sites will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.

Full service:

  • Stormwater Pavement & Traffic Operations Building, 1744 9th Ave. N
  • Lake Maggiore Park Shelter Area, 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. S
  • Northeast Park East Baseball Field Parking Lot, 955 62nd Ave. NE
  • Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot Park, 2331 60th St. N

Self service:

  • 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

Temple Terrace

A sandbag location will be open Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Sports Complex: 10369 US Highway 301

Dunedin

Pre-fill sandbags will be available Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Once they're gone, self-service sandbags will be available.

  • Highlander Park, 903 Michigan Blvd.

Pinellas Park

Sandbags will be available Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

  • 6151 78th Ave N. Pinellas Park (pre-made sandbags)
  • Helen Howarth Park, 6301 94th Ave. (self-service sandbags) 

Gulfport

Sandbags will be available Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • 49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.

This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

I wasn't always a morning person. After spending years as a nighttime sports copy editor and page designer, I made the move to digital editing in 2000. Turns out, it was one of the best moves I've ever made.
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