Severe weather preparation and Tampa Bay area resources, shelters, sandbag information

Hurricane Dorian is expected to seriously impact Florida as a major hurricane.

Here are severe weather resources and sandbag information for the Tampa Bay area.  This post will be updated as new resources and sandbag locations are available. Check out the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network for updates here

WMNF’s Seán Kinane interviewed meteorologist Ray Hawthorne with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network on Friday just before Dorian strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane. Listen to that interview here:

Visit Mutual Aid Disaster Relief’s “Inspiration and Support For Disaster Preparation” here

Read the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council ‘2019 All-Hazards Disaster Planning Guide’ for information on flooding and evacuation zones  here

Emergency Shelters: 

https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/shelters/

Sandbag Locations:

For information on filling and using sandbags, click here.

Hillsborough County:

City residents can get up to 10 sandbags at 4501 S. Himes Avenue.

The complex is open daily from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. until further notice.

Other locations-

• MacFarlane Park – 1700 N. MacDill Ave.
• Al Barnes Park – 2902 N. 32^nd St.
•  Edward Medard Conservation Park – 6140 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City
  E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin
  Ed Radice Park, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa

Tampa residents must show ID to verify that they live within the city limits. A valid driver’s license, utility bill, or electric bill will serve as proper identification. There is a limit of 10 bags per person.

Pinellas:

Pinellas County response/action

• Sandbag distribution locations open Thursday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sandbag distribution will also be available 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday until supplies last.
• Sandbags limited to 20 per person – materials will be supplied, shovels available. Staff will be available for residents needing extra assistance.
• Public Works crews continuing to resupply sandbags
• Sandbags recommended for rainfall flooding – not storm surge.
• Citizen Information Center remains open. Call 727-464-4333.

Sandbag locations

• John Chesnut Sr. Park: 2200 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor
• Walsingham Park: 12615 102nd Ave North in Largo
• Lealman Exchange: 5175 45th St. N in St. Petersburg

Pinellas Park:

The City of Pinellas Park is opening a self-service sandbag
site for residents only. Residents can get up to 10 sandbags each. Residents
must show a water bill and/or valid driver’s license indicating they are a
resident of Pinellas Park in order to receive their sandbags. Pick up location
and times are below:

Where: Helen Howarth Park – 6401 94th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL 33781

When: Thursday, August 29th from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and Friday, August 30th
from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Weekend TBD)

For more information about sandbags, please contact the Public Works
Department at 727-369-5617.

Dunedin:

The City of Dunedin will have a sandbag distribution center for City residents
& business owners, opening Friday, August 30th from 8am-7pm, Sat & Sun
7am-7pm; weather permitting. Location: behind Fire Station 61 at 903 Michigan
Blvd. Limit is15 bags per vehicle. Proof of residency / business address
required.

Gulfport:

• Sandbags will be made available at the 49^th Street Neighborhood Center (1617 49^th Street South) from 1PM-8PM today, and from 8AM-8PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or until inclement weather begins. There is 10-bag limit and proof of residency may be required.
• The Citizens Information Call Center will open at 4PM today and remain open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8AM-8PM. Residents with Hurricane Dorian related questions can call the City of Gulfport Citizen Information Call Center at (727) 893-1000

Hardee County:

Sandbags are available to Hardee County residents at the following location:
Hardee County Road Dept., 205 Hanchey Road, in Wauchula, between the hours of
8:00a – 5:00p today through Friday. Saturday and Sunday times are still being
considered.
City of Wauchula, 205 N. 3rd Avenue, (the water tower) in Wauchula will begin
today (8/29/19) at 2:00p – 5:00p and will continue through Friday 8:00a –
5:00p.

Manatee County:

Residents in Manatee County can get sandbags from two locations Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• 5511 39th Street E
• 1108 26th Avenue E

Sandbags will be available Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 at the following-

G.T. Bray Park parking lot, Bennet Park, Lakewood Ranch Park and the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

The County’s Citizen Information Center line, (941) 749-3547, will field calls from the public Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.

Pasco County:

Residents can visit these self-serve sandbag locations in the county. They are open 24 hours. Officials say bring a shovel and be prepared to fill your own bags.

• – Moon Lake Park, 8985 Lake Dr., New Port Richey
  – Magnolia Valley Golf Course Clubhouse, 7223 Massachusetts Ave., New Port
  Richey
  – Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
  – Pasco Fire Rescue Station 17, 2951 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey
  – Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
  – Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn), 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
  – Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Rd, Wesley Chapel
  – Old Dade City Police Station, 38042 Pasco Avenue, Dade City

Polk County:

Bartow, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2019) – Sandbag fill sites will open tomorrow for Polk County residents preparing for Tropical Storm Dorian.

A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household to help prevent water intrusion into the home.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Aug. 28, the following locations will provide sand and sandbags. Please bring your own shovel.

Sandbag fill site locations are:

·         Mulberry – 900 NE 5^th St., Mulberry, (863) 519-4734

·         Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland (863) 815-6701

·         Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9^th St., Fort Meade (863) 285-6588

·         Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof (863) 635-7879

·         Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale (863) 965-5524

·         Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee, (863) 421-3367

Sunday’s schedule could change, depending upon sand supply and increasing wind speeds.

Winterhaven:

Due to the anticipated extensive rainfall from Tropical Storm Dorian, the City
of Winter Haven has set up a sandbag location at W.G. Roe Park in Winter Haven.
The filling station is open as of today, August 28, 2019. There is a limit of
10 bags per household.
The station address is 2269 7th St SW in Winter Haven.
Sand and bags are available to citizens and will be replenished as needed
until the weather event has passed.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels for filling the bags.

All sites will remain open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, only the Fort Meade and Frostproof sites will remain open. On Monday, only the Mulberry, Lakeland, Auburndale and Dundee sites will be open. However, this could change depending on the storm’s track and intensity.

School Closures:

The public school districts in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Citrus Counties have announced that schools will be closed on Tuesday. Polk County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Stetson University College of Law’s Gulfport and Tampa campuses will close today at 5 and remain closed through Tuesday.

Florida Department of Health Warning About Carbon Monoxide Dangers:

As Floridians begin the task of preparing for a storm, the Florida Department
of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) is urging the public to avoid
carbon monoxide (CO) exposure by taking precautions with gas-powered
appliances and charcoal or gas grills.

CO is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is highly poisonous. CO
may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pains for those with heart disease,
shortness of breath upon exertion, abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches,
confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness, and
in severe cases death.
DOH-Pinellas recommends the following precautions to help prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning:

Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, garage, vehicle, tent or
fireplace.
Never use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl
spaces, and other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation.
Opening doors and windows, or using fans, will not prevent CO build-up in the
home.
Always keep portable generators or gasoline engines outside and away from
open windows, doors, window air conditioners or exhaust vents that could allow
CO to come indoors. Follow the instructions that come with your unit.
Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up
in your home per the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms
should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO
alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, ASTM D6332, or CSA 6.19.01).
Test your CO alarms per the manufacturer’s recommendations and replace dead
batteries.
Remember you cannot see or smell CO. Portable generators can produce high
levels of CO very quickly.

If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to
fresh air right away. Do not delay.

If you suspect CO poisoning, call your nearest Florida Poison Information
Center at        1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not
breathing, call 911 immediately.

For updates throughout Hurricane Dorian, follow us on Twitter @HealthyPinellas.

Closures:

City of Largo Facility Closures and Service Disruptions:
City of Largo facilities will be closed on Monday, Sep 2 for Labor Day.
City of Largo facilities including City Hall, Recreation facilities and
the Largo Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, Sep 3 in anticipation of
potential severe weather.
There will be no solid waste, recycling or bulk collection on Monday, Sep
2 or Tuesday, Sep 3.
Please move trash and recycling containers inside a garage or secure
location.
The City of Largo will not be distributing sandbags.
The Largo City Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Sep and 6pm is
canceled.
Ensure you have enough food and water for 5-7 days