Sandbags are again available in Gulfport but this time with a newly repaired three-bag-at-a-time filling jig. At midday on Monday, August 30, Gulfport Sanitation Maintenance II staff reported that since Sunday morning, they had filled over 200 bags for residents who are preparing for possible flooding due to predicted heavy tropical weather. The system may produce rainfall from four to six inches and be upgraded to a tropical storm by Thursday. Residents are limited to 10 bags. To find out if the sandbag station is open and the hours, visit facebook.com/mygulfport. Practicing with the jig from left are Jon Sterner, Clarence Mayes and Donovan Bryan. Right now, “it’s quicker if we do it with one guy shoveling and one holding a bag,” said Bryan. In the time it takes to do three with the jig, they can do four without it, he said.
The sandbags will be available at Gulfport City Hall, 2401 53rd St. S. through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until inclement weather begins.
On Tuesday, August 30 the city of Gulfport released a statement saying that Citizen Call Center would open Wednesday at 8 a.m.
“Residents with questions can call the Citizen Informational Call Center at 727-893-1000 on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. City officials continue to monitor Tropical Depression 9. Please stay tuned to the weather at http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/weather.htm. For the latest City updates, please visit www.mygulfport.us, the “Official Page” of the City of Gulfport Florida on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mygulfport, GTV640.”