In preparation for potential heavy rain from Tropical Storm Nicole, sandbag sites are opening up in Pasco, Polk, Citrus and Hernando counties.

Pasco County

Pasco County officials said they opened the following two sandbag stations, which are self-serve and open 24/7 to Pasco County residents:

  • Magnolia Valley Golf Course: 7223 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey
  • Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn): 30908 Warder Rd., San Antonio

Residents are required to bring shovels to fill the bags, and crews will restock sand daily, Pasco County officials said.

Dade City will also provide sand and bags through Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. at the following location:

  • Former Dade City Police Department building, 38042 Pasco Avenue, Dade City

City of New Port Richey officials said that sand and sandbags will be available for city residents on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and Wednesday, Nov. 9. until 4 p.m. at the following location:

  • 6420 Pine Hill Rd., Port Richey

This is a self-service station, and proof of city residency and a shovel are required, City of New Port Richey officials said.

Polk County

Polk County officials said sandbags are available throughout the county at Roadway Maintenance Units on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The following locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Mulberry – 900 NE 5th St., Mulberry, (863) 519-4734
  • Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland (863) 815-6701
  • Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th 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
  • Poinciana Park - corner of Lake Hatchineha Road and Marigold Ave.

A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household, officials said.

 

Citrus County

According to Citrus County officials, two self-serve sandbag sites will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the following locations: 

  • Homosassa Community Park, 4210 S. Grandmarch Ave., Homosassa
  • Bicentennial Park, 501 N. Baseball Pt., Crystal River

Self-serve sites are open 24 hours but are not monitored overnight for availability of supplies, Citrus County officials said, adding that a shovel is required.

Hernando County

Hernando County officials announced that the following sandbag location will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9:

  • Linda Pedersen Park - 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill

Sand and sandbag supplies are limited at this self-serve station, and a shovel is required, officials said, adding that the site will be open until weather conditions begin to deteriorate.

Officials with Hernando County provided the following tips on how to properly fill and stack sandbags:

  • Fill bags one-half to two-thirds of the way full
  • Over-filled bags will result in a leaky sandbag wall
  • Stack sandbags so that the seams between the bags are staggered
  • Tuck the top of each bag under to ensure that that bag is sealed by its own weight