TAMPA-- Just weeks after getting drenched by Debby, Florida's west coast prepares for the potential of tropical storm force winds and more rain from Potential Tropical Cyclone 9.
Governor DeSantis has issued a state of emergency in these counties, including the coastal counties of the Tampa Bay area: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus , Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough , Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee , Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco , Pinellas , Santa Rosa, Sarasota , Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties. Hernando has declared a local state of emergency and other counties are expected to follow through Tuesday.
The attorney general has activated her price gouging hotline at (866) 966-7626.
Sarasota and Manatee counties are wasting no time in beginning storm preps. Those two counties received record-setting rain, with more than 17 inches falling in some inland locations.
Sarasota County says it will offer sandbags today and tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at three locations:
- South County Fleet Services, 4571 State Road 776/Englewood Road, South Venice
- Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota
- Ed Smith Stadium (parking lot), 2700 12th St.
The city of Venice is offering self-service sandbags, 8 am to 4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday at 252 Seaboard Avenue. North Port has opened a self-service sandbag station at Larry Thoennissen Athletic Fields behind the George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way, while supplies last.
Meantime, Manatee County, which saw flooding in more than a hundred homes and businesses, is preparing for another soaking. Residents complained that flooding from heavy rains was compounded by the effects of development as well as the county's decision to release water from the Lake Manatee dam into a spillway. The county says it has finished maintenance work on the dam. All three mechanical gates are working, and the earthen "plug" dams are back to pre-Debby levels. The county says the lake elevation is just under 38 feet. Staffers will decide whether to discharge any water in the leadup to the storm. Sandbags are being handed out in at least 11 locations, listed here: .
Hillsborough County is offering sandbags from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at these locations:
- Edward Medard Conservation Park , 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Ed Radice Sports Complex , 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626
- Larry Sanders Sports Complex , 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619
The city of Tampa is opening sandbags sites in two stages. At 8 a.m. Tuesday, operations will be open for seniors. Then at noon, sandbags will be available to all residents until 7 p.m. Sites will open again from 8 a to 7 p Wednesday. Sites are at the Himes Avenue Complex, at 4501 South Himes Avenue, Al Barnes Park at 2902 North 32nd Street, and Al Lopez Park at 4810 North Himes Avenue.
Tampa says stormwater crews are out clearing drainage systems. Drainage was a big issue earlier this month, when a sudden downpour triggered street flooding in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, on the heels of heavy rain from Debby.
Polk County residents will have sandbags at these locations, Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harper Park, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
- Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
- Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
- Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof
- Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
- Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
- Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee 34759
Pasco County is offering bags at these locations:
* Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn), 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
* Magnolia Valley Golf Course, 7223 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey
* Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
* Pasco Fire Rescue Station #29: 6907 Dairy Rd, Zephyrhills
The city of Port Richey is making bags available at the police station.
The city of Pinellas Park is making bags available at two locations: a premade site at 78th Ave N and 62nd St from 8 am - 7 pm Tuesday and 8 am - 5 pm Wednesday, and a self-serve site at Helen Howarth Park on 94th Avenue, same hours.
Most jurisdictions require proof of residency and limit the number of bags, usually to 10.
Photo: Getty Images (2024)
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