Hillsborough County Declares State of Local Emergency and Offers Sandbags for Storm Preparation

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise today signed an executive order declaring a state of local emergency under authority granted by the County’s Emergency Management Ordinance and the Board of County Commissioners.

To help residents prepare for the potential effects of Tropical Storm Idalia, Hillsborough County is making sandbags available to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28. Residents are asked not to arrive at one of the four locations before 9 a.m. The gates will not open until 9 a.m.    

Sandbags will be available at the following 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

Hillsborough County residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per family. Residents must show ID verifying they live in the county. A driver’s license or utility bill will serve as proper identification. Edward Medard Conservation Park and E.G. Simmons Conservation Park will be closed to the public during sandbag operations.

The state of local emergency order is in effect through Sept. 3. A state of local emergency can be in effect for only seven days, unless rescinded or extended. The emergency declaration gives the County Administrator and emergency managers the ability to quickly take certain actions to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community, and provides a path for federal reimbursement of certain expenses.

Read the Hillsborough County order declaring a state of local emergency. 

Get Connected. Stay Alert.
For more information on any other potential emergency in the county, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook; X, formerly known as Twitter; and Nextdoor for updates.

Residents without digital access are encouraged to call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676, the County's storm information line, or visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe. The storm information line will open at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28.