Hurricane Ian: Here's where you can and can't get sandbags in Northeast Florida

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Sandbags are traditional bulwarks against water flooding into homes and businesses in Jacksonville and beyond during hurricane season.

But while many Northeast Florida county governments are supplying limited numbers of free sandbags and sand, as long as folks fill them themselves, Duval County does not.

The reason is that they don't mix with Jacksonville's drainage system, said Todd Smith, Emergency Preparedness Division chief.

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"Sandbags in other counties are because they have a different stormwater management system," Smith said. "In Jacksonville, we have a very complicated system, and sandbags if not used the right way can cause damage."

Smith said that residents can buy sand and sandbags at local hardware and home improvement stores as Hurricane Ian looms.

Sandbag availability: Clay County

Sandbags are available to residents for free from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily starting Tuesday until supplies run out. Ten sandbags per person will be given away. Residents need a shovel and proof of residency and must fill their own bags.

The giveaway sites are Omega Park, 4317 County Road 218, Middleburg; Eagle Harbor Soccer Complex, 4287 Lakeshore Drive, Fleming Island; Green Cove Springs Old Fire Station, 25 Roderigo Ave.; Keystone Heights Cemetery, 555 S. Lawrence Blvd.; and Orange Park Athletic Association, 1086 Fromhart St.

Nassau County 

Sandbag locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until further notice. Residents need a shovel and proof of residency and must fill their own bags. The sandbag sites are Yulee Road Department, 86200 Gene Lassere Blvd., and Hilliard Road Department, 37356 Pea Farm Road.

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Putnam County

These locations opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday: Hunting Landfill, 1551 County Road 308, Crescent City; East Palatka Community Park, 223 Putnam County Blvd.; East Palatka and Chesser Sand Pit, 145 West Washington St., Hawthorne. Residents need a shovel and must fill their own bags.

St. Johns County

Free sandbags are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, a maximum of 20 bags per person. Residents need a shovel and must fill their own bags. The sandbag sites are Windswept Acres Park, 5335 S. Florida A1A; Solomon Calhoun Center, 1300 Duval St.; Hastings Town Hall, 6195 S. Main St.; Mills Field, 1805 Racetrack Road, Saint Johns; North Beach Park, 3721 Coastal Highway; and Under the Palm Valley Bridge on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549