County Distributes Sandbags as Flood Warnings Issued for Alafia and Little Manatee Rivers
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County is proactively responding to forecasts of widespread rainfall and potential flooding by making sandbags available to residents on Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July 17.
The move comes as the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for both the Alafia River at Lithia and the Little Manatee River at U.S. 301 in Wimauma, with both waterways expected to rise above flood stage.
READ: Florida Braces For Deluge As Tropical Rainstorm Targets Gulf Coast, Louisiana On High Alert
Residents concerned about rising waters can pick up a maximum of 10 sandbags per family at four designated locations across the county. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill, will be required for collection. The distribution sites will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days.
The National Weather Service anticipates the Alafia River at Lithia will experience minor flooding from Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon. Similarly, the Little Manatee River at U.S. 301 in Wimauma is under a flood warning from Wednesday afternoon until late Thursday evening.
READ: Hillsborough County, DOH Seek Resident Input On Health Priorities And Communication
To facilitate sandbag distribution, the following locations will be closed to general visitors on Wednesday and Thursday, accessible only for residents collecting sandbags:
- Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Dr., Tampa, FL 33626
- Edward Medard Conservation Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd., Plant City, FL 33567
- E.G. Simmons Conservation Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
- Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, FL 33619
Hillsborough County Emergency Management encourages residents to retain any unused sandbags for the remainder of the 2025 hurricane season, highlighting the importance of ongoing preparedness.
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