TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — With Hurricane Milton on the way, officials in the Tampa Bay area are offering sandbags to help protect homes from flooding.

The following counties and cities have opened sandbag sites:

Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County will open two sandbag sites on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and on Monday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for county residents.

  • E.G. Simmons Conservation Park (2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin)
  • Ed Radice Sports Complex (14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa)
  • Larry Sanders Progress Village Sports Complex (5855 S. 78th Street, Tampa)

There is a limit of 10 bags per resident and residents “should be prepared to fill their own sandbags.” ID in the form of a driver’s license or recent utility bill must be shown to verify residency.

City of Tampa: The City of Tampa is opening two self-service sandbag sites on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Himes Avenue Complex (4501 S Himes Avenue)
  • Al Barnes Park (2902 N 32nd Street)

There is a limit of 10 bags. Free tarps will also be provided, while supplies last.

Pinellas County

For unincorporated Pinellas County residents only, the following sandbag locations will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday:

  • Palm Harbor: John Chesnut Park, 2200 East Lake Road S.
  • Seminole: Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave

City of St. Petersburg: The city’s emergency sandbag locations will be open on Sunday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Self-service locations:

  • Dell Homes Park – 2741 22nd St. S.
  • Fossil Park Northern Most Parking Lot – 6875 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N.
  • Walter Fuller Soccer Field Parking Lot – 2800 75th St. N. 

Full-service locations:

  • Lake Maggiore Park Shelter Area – 3601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. S.
  • Northeast Park East Baseball Field Parking Lot – 955 62nd Ave. NE.
  • Northwest Swimming Pool Parking Lot Park – 2331 60th St. N.

Sandbag sites may close due to inclement weather.

City of Dunedin: The city is opening a self-service sandbag site for residents only on Monday, Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

  • Jerry Lake Recreation Complex (1601 Virginia St, Dunedin, FL 34698)

To get to this location from SR-580 take Achieva Way south to Jerry Lake Court. Then go right to the Jerry Lake Recreation Complex (soccer fields).

Residents must show their proof of residency with either a driver’s license or a recent utility bill.

There is a limit of 15 sandbags per resident or business owner. Sand, sandbags, and shovels are available at this location. The city encourages people to reuse non-contaminated sandbags from Helene.

Sarasota County

The Sarasota County Government is operating three sandbag sites, open Friday until 7 p.m.

  • Ed Smith Stadium (2700 12th St.)
  • Twin Lakes Park (6700 Clark Road, Sarasota)
  • South County Fleet Services (4571 SR 776/Englewood Road, Venice)

Supplies are limited to 10 sandbags per vehicle. Residents are encouraged to reuse their sandbags from previous storms.

City of Venice: The City of Venice is opening a sandbag site until 4 p.m. on Friday at 252 Seaboard Ave.

Residents must bring their own bags, or pick up bags at City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., or Venice Public Works, 1350 Ridgewood Ave.

Shovels will be provided. There is a limit of 10 bags per vehicle.

Town of Longboat Key: A self-serve sandbag station is open at the Broadway Beach Access. If residents need additional bags, they are asked to visit The Town of Longboat Key Public Works Department at 600 General Harris Street.

City of North Port: A self-serve sandbag station is available at the Larry Thoennissen Athletic Fields behind the George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way.

Bags and sand will be available while supplies last, with a limit of 10 bags per vehicle.

Manatee County

Manatee County has seven self-service sandbag sites open from dawn until dusk.

  • Buffalo Creek Park (7550 69th St E, Palmetto)
  • Dam Road (1505 Dam Road)
  • Greenbrook Park (6655 Greenbrook Blvd, Lakewood Ranch)
  • Lakewood Ranch Park (5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton)
  • Myakka Community Center (10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City)
  • Rye Preserve (905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish)
  • Stormwater Facility (5511 39th St E, Bradenton)

City of Bradenton: Bradenton residents can pick up sandbags on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sandbags will be available at the Public Works Annex, located at 1411 9th Street West.

Pasco County

Sandbags at the two locations below are available 24/7.

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

The two additional locations below will be open from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Oct. 5.

  • Veterans Memorial Park (14333 Hicks Road, Hudson)
  • Pasco Fire Rescue Station #29 (6907 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills)
  • Former Dade City Police Department building (38042 Pasco Avenue, Dade City)

All locations are self-serve and for Pasco County residents only. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels to prepare their own bags.

Citrus County

All sandbag sites are self-serve and residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

  • Homosassa Recreational Park (4210 S Grandmarch Ave)
  • Floral Park (9530 S Parkside Ave, Floral City)
  • Old Hernando Elementary School (2435 N Florida Ave)
  • Bicentennial Park (N Baseball Point, Crystal River)

Residents can call 352-527-7610.

Highlands County

Residents can pick up bags at the following locations beginning on Sunday:

  • Sebring: Road and Bridge office at 4344 George Blvd.
  • Avon Park: Road and Bridge office on East Winthrop Street
  • Lake Placid: Road and Bridge office on County Road 621

Sand for sandbags will be available at:

  • Sebring: South George Boulevard just north of the Emergency Operations Center
  • Avon Park: Intersection of Old Bombing Range Road, County Road 17A and Isabelle Lake Road
  • Lake Placid: Intersection of County Road 621, County Road 619 and Highlands Lake Drive

Residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

Tips for filling 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

More sandbag sites will be added to this list as they become available.