Hillsborough County Opens Sandbag Locations

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County residents with plans to batten down the hatches in advance of anticipated severe weather later this week are getting some help. The county has announced the opening of three locations where its residents can get sandbags.

The county’s sandbag operations kick off at noon on Monday and will continue through Thursday. Locations will be open Monday until 4 p.m. They’ll reopen Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The locations are as follows:

• West Service Unit – 9805 Sheldon Road, Tampa
• South Service Unit – 8118 Old Big Bend Road, Gibsonton
• East Service Unit – 4702 Sydney Road, Plant City

Residents must make their own sandbags with materials provided. A limit of 25 sandbags has been set. The county does require residents to sign a form acknowledging they’ve received sandbags, as well.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the entire Tampa Bay area is likely in for a soggy week as a tropical depression makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to reach tropical storm status before moving near the Tampa Bay area sometime on Thursday.

To find out more about the storm, check out this related story: Hurricane Gaston Stalls; Depressions Aim for Florida, N.C.

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