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 Hurricane Preparation
Sandbags

Surviving the Storm - It's Everyone's Responsibility Sandbag Limitations:

Sand bags are not an effective way to block or minimize water intrusion into homes or buildings. But, some homeowners feel a sense of well being by utilizing sand bags.

  • Sandbags will not seal out water and offer very little resistance to flooding.
  • Sandbags are heavy and stacking them takes considerable physical effort.
  • Fill sandbags one-half full.
  • Sandbags deteriorate when exposed to continued wetting and drying for several months. If bags are placed too early, they may not be effective when needed.
  • Sandbags are for small water flow protection - up to two feet.
  • Protection from larger flow requires a more permanent flood prevention system.

Sandbags might help redirect storm water and debris flows away from homes and other structures, provided the sandbags are properly filled and maintained. Sandbags usually last for only one year.

Filling:

  • Self-service and citizens must bring their own shovel.
  • Residents can fill no more than 25 bags at the location and must supply their own bags. None will be available at the location.
  • Fill sandbags one-half full.
  • Use sand if readily available, otherwise, use local soil.
  • Fold top of sandbag down and rest bag on its folded top.

Placing:

  • Take care in stacking sandbags.
  • Limit placement to three layers, unless a building is used as a backing or sandbags are placed in a pyramid.
  • Tamp each sandbag into place, completing each layer prior to starting the next layer.
  • Clear a path between buildings for debris flow.
  • Lay a plastic sheet in between the building and the bags to control the flow and prevent water from seeping into sliding glass doors.

Removing:

  • Homeowners should empty the sand in their gardens or yards, then throw the bags in the trash.
  • Before disposing of used sandbags, check for contamination. Sandbags exposed to contaminated floodwaters may pose an environmental hazard and require special handling. The sand bags that are distributed by the Highway Department are poly bags and can be dried out and reused unless they are contaminated, damaged or falling apart. This would save the citizen time by not having to go to the sandbag site and give them the opportunity to reuse the sandbags.
  • Check your local municipal laws and environmental protection regulations.

Sand Bags (Green=open)

hours of operation

Open Closed

 
Name
Address
City
Closed Chesnut Park -
North County site
2200 East Lake Rd. Palm Harbor
Closed Taylor Lake Park -
Mid-County site
1100 8th Ave. SW Largo
Closed Lealman Park -
South County site
NE corner of 39th St. and 54th Ave. N. St. Petersburg
Closed City of Clearwater
Public Utilities
1650 N. Arcturas Ave. Clearwater
Closed City of Indian Rocks Beach 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.- 15th Ave. and Gulf Blvd. Indian Rocks Beach
Closed K-Mart 1001 Missouri Ave. Largo
Closed Tri-City Plaza US 19 and Eastbay Largo
Closed Bicentennial Park 423 Lafayette Boulevard Oldsmar
Closed Northeast Park 875 62nd Ave. NE. (Cardinal Drive entrance to Mangrove Bay Golf Course) St. Petersburg
Closed Bartlett Park 22nd Ave. S. between Sixth and Seventh Streets. St. Petersburg
Closed Northwest Community Center 5801 22nd Ave. N. St. Petersburg
Closed Seminole City Park 7464 Ridge Road Seminole
Closed Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Station #66 1123 Illinois Ave. Palm Harbor
Closed City of Madeira Beach
Archibald Memorial Beach Park
12100 Gulf Blvd. Madeira Beach
Closed City of Belleair Beach southwest near tennis courts. Off of the south side of the Belleair Causeway Belleair Beach
Closed Tierra Verde- Old Fire Station 1420 Bay Way Tierra Verde
Closed Wall Springs Park 3725 De Soto Blvd. Palm Harbor


Pinellas County Operated Sand Bag Sites
Self service locations where the citizen can the fill the bags themselves with the sand / dirt supplied by Pinellas County will be open pre-event from 8 AM until 7 PM. Pinellas County personnel will be stationed at the sites to distribute the sand bags and maintain order.

There will be three Pinellas County Sand Bag locations.

For citizens of unincorporated Pinellas County;

  • Each site will be self serve
  • You must bring your own sand bags and shovel

Sand locations within Pinellas County;

  • Chesnut Park, 3900 Sandy Pt. Dr.
  • Taylor Lake Park, 1100 8th Ave. SW
  • Lealman Park, corner of 39 St. and 54 Ave.

Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. unless otherwise dictated by Event If the citizens live within city limits, they should contact their city for the appropriate sand bag site.


City of Belleair Beach
Bayside Park. This location is reached by driving on Gulf Blvd to 9th Street. At this point, you will be driving east on 9th Street. After reaching the "T" in the road, take a left (north). The location is at the cul-de-sac at the end of this road, near Bayside Park.
Hours of operation: beginning at 12:00 (noon)
Type of service: Please note that this is a self serve operation. The City will be providing sand, sandbags, shovels, and a hopper to fill the bags. However, no City personnel will be available to fill the bags.


City of Clearwater
Clearwater Public Utilities, 1650 N. Arcturas Avenue.
The City of Clearwater has sand available for residents; citizens must supply their own sand bags.
Hours of operations: Open 24 hours


City of Indian Rocks Beach
Implemented its Self-Served Sandbag Program, as of 10 a.m. Residents are allowed 20 sandbags. There is a normal schedule for Solid Waste Operations (Trash Pickup). However, the City is asking that residents do not put out tree trimmings, grass clippings, and/or yard waste.


City of Largo
K-Mart at 1001 Missouri Ave.
Tri-City Plaza at US 19 and Eastbay
Hours of operation: beginning approx. 11:30 a.m.
Type of service provided: Sand bags and sand are available for self serve


City of Oldsmar
Bicentennial Park, 423 Lafayette Boulevard, Oldsmar
Hours of operation: 12:00 Noon through dusk
Type of service: Residents can fill their own sand bags with shovels provided by the City. City crews will be available to assist as needed.


City of Seminole
City of Seminole will have sandbags available to City residents only – citizens will need to provide proof of residency
Seminole City Park, located at 7464 Ridge Road in Seminole.
Hours of operation: 1 - 9 p.m.
Type of service provided: Supply sand already in bags.
LIMIT OF 10 PER RESIDENT.


City of Tarpon Springs
Dodecanese Blvd. at the Roosevelt Ave. intersection
Dorsett Park - Levis Ave.
Live Oak St. at City Parking Lot (east of Pinellas Ave.)
Hours of operation: Opening at 5 p.m.

Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center
Department of Emergency Management
Citizen Information Center
(727) 464-3800
(during an emergency activation call (727) 464-4333)

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