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A high number of Tampa Bay residents are picking up sandbags ahead of Hurricane Irma

A high number of Tampa Bay residents are picking up sandbags ahead of Hurricane Irma
Posted at 11:48 PM, Sep 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-07 23:48:34-04

Sandbag locations will reopen Friday, throughout Tampa Bay.

There is still time to visit locations to pick up sandbags for your home. At many of those locations, people have had to wait long periods of time to get their sandbags and at times those locations have run out before the end of the day.

"I came this morning, but the line was so long that we left and then we said let's go after lunch," Jose Dominguez said.

Some people have had to stop by a second time to try to get sandbags because of the high number of people visiting the different locations.

"Our kids go to the school right across the street and we came by the other morning, but they'd already been out," Cory Harris said.

Thursday afternoon, ABC Action News saw a truck dropping off more sand at the MacFarlane Park location in Tampa. Hillsborough County officials have reported they have already distributed nearly 200,000 sandbags in the county. 

Even though Hurricane Irma is still deciding which path it'll take up our state, people are not taking any chances.

"The way our pool is set up, we have some water {that} flows down into the back door so that's where we're sandbagging," Alvin Baker said.

Many people are praying everything will be okay.

"It's in God's hands, but I pray....you wish this upon no one ....any natural disaster whether it's a hurricane or a tornado," Brigitte Ciccarello said.

HURRICANE IRMA | Real-time tracking maps, Hurricane supply kit info & Hurricane Center

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Hurricane Supply Kit ChecklistThings to know before the storm | Preparations for your pets | Power outage maps & resources | Know your evacuation zone | Price gouging: How to protect yourself and report it | Insurance protection: Video tape home inventory | Tampa Bay sandbag locations | Find a hurricane shelter near you | Hurricane Irma Emergency Phone Numbers

Tracking Hurricane Irma: Updates and thoughts from Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips