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.

Pinellas County Operated Sand Bag Sites

Self service locations where the citizen can the fill the bags themselves with the sand / dirt and bags 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 3 Pinellas County Sand Bag locations.

Citizens of unincorporated Pinellas County must bring their own shovel and fill the sandbags that are provided. There will be a 25 sand bag limit per vehicle.

If the citizens live within city limits they should contact their city for the appropriate sand bag site.

• North Location: Chesnut Park, 3900 Sandy Point Rd:
  Office 669-1951
• Mid County Location: Taylor Lake Park, 1100 8th Ave S.W.:
  Office 588-4847
• South County Location: Lealman Park, Corner of 39th ST and 54th Ave:
  Office 217-7256

Hours of Operation: 8 AM until 7 PM unless otherwise dictated by Event

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) August 18
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 these 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 AM, Monday, August 18. 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 am on Monday and will run through Tuesday
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, today, August 18, 2008 and reopen at 7 am on Tuesday for as long as weather permits.
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: 1pm to 9pm Monday
Type of service provided: Supply sand already in bags. LIMIT OF 10 PER RESIDENT.

City of Tarpon Springs
Dodecanese Bl at the Roosevelt Av intersection
Dorsett Park - Levis Av
Live Oak St @ City Parking Lot (east of Pinellas Av)
Hours of operation: Opening at 5pm Monday August 18

Sandbag Locations (locations subject to change):

Sandbag Limitations:

• 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.
• Maximum limit of 25 bags per household.
• 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 material in the bags 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