Sandbag sites open across Bay Area in preparation for Hurricane Milton

TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast on Wednesday and many municipalities will have sandbag sites open on Monday and Tuesday to help residents prepare for the storm.

Here's where you can get sandbags:

Hardee County sandbags

The county sandbag distribution site will be open Tuesday from 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Hardee County Public Works Facility, 205 Hanchey Rd, Wauchula, FL 33873.

Sandbag filling will be self-service, and assistance will be provided as needed.

Hernando County

Hernando County opened the following sandbag sites, beginning Sunday, October 6, 2024, and will run daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

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

Hillsborough County

All sandbagging locations in Hillsborough County are now closed and will remain closed through the storm.

Tampa sandbags

Himes Avenue Complex (4501 S Himes Avenue), Sunday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Al Barnes Park (2902 N 32nd Street), Sunday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Manatee County

Bradenton sandbags

Public Works Annex, Sunday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents are instructed to use 9th St. W. to enter the area behind the Annex, located at 1411 9th St. W. Signage will be in place.

Sandbag distribution is limited to 10 bags per car, and a valid ID demonstrating City residency will be required. Please remember to clear your storm drains and keep those sandbags on hand through the end of hurricane season.

Pasco County

Pasco County Emergency Management will close sandbag sites at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The following locations are open until noon on Wednesday:

Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Avenue., NPR
Pasco Public Works C-Barn: 30908 Warder Road., San Antonio
J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex: 2830 Gulf Trace Boulevard, Holiday
Mitchell Park: 4825 Little Road., New Port Richey
Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center: 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
Pasco Fire Rescue Station #29: 6907 Dairy Road., Zephyrhills

Pinellas County

Pinellas County has closed sandbag locations.

Gulfport sandbags

A sandbag station is open at the northwest corner of Hoyt Field (23rd St. S and 57th St. S). for as long as weather and resources allow.

Polk County sandbags

Polk County will have sandbags available on Monday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

Mulberry/South Lakeland – Parque Loyce E. Harpe, 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, Frostproof
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 bags of sand will be provided to each home.

Winter Haven

The city will open a sandbag fill station from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. It will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weather permitting.

Rueben Williams Sports Complex (Previously Lake Maude Recreation Park) at 1751 7th St NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881

This is a self-serve station, and residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels. The city will provide bags and sand. The limit is 10 bags per Winter Haven resident. Residency is verified by a Winter Haven address on an I.D. such as a driver's license.