Sandbags available in Manatee County as Hurricane Eta nears the coast

Residents can now stock up on free sandbags in preparation for Eta, which downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a strong tropical storm on Wednesday.

Bradenton residents can claim up to 10 sandbags through 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Residents are asked to take 13th Avenue West and visit the area behind the Public Works Annex, which is at 1411 Ninth St. W., according to a news release.

The release said a valid ID card was required for Bradenton residents to collect the sandbags.

Several other county and city sites were announced later on Wednesday morning:

• Coquina Beach (North Boat Ramp), 1389 Gulf Drive S., sandbags made available by the county.
• Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, sandbags made available by the county.
• Anna Maria (Bayfront Park), 316 N. Bay Blvd., self-service location made available to city residents.
• Holmes Beach (City Hall), 5801 Marina Dr., self-service location made available to city residents.
• Longboat Key, Broadway Beach Access, self-service location made available to city residents.

For the most updated list of locations, visit www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety, click on “Emergency Preparedness” and navigate to “Sandbag Distribution.”

Local officials launched the sandbag distribution after an early-morning update from the National Weather Service. In its 4:45 a.m. report, the agency said that Eta was expected to move toward the peninsula north of Tampa Bay, prompting a hurricane watch from Anna Maria Island north to Yankeetown.

“A Florida landfall from Tropical Storm Eta is now imminent,” the agency reported on Wednesday morning. “As Eta moves northward just off the coast, the threat for tropical storm force winds, localized flash flooding, storm surge, hazardous marine conditions, and isolated tornadoes will all be possible.”

In a subsequent updates, the agency said Eta had re-strengthened into a hurricane before downgrading to a strong tropical storm by Wednesday afternoon. The hurricane watch for the west coast of Florida was canceled and replaced by a tropical storm warning that extended from Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River.

The center of Eta was was nearing the coast late Wednesday. It was expected to make landfall north of Tampa Bay, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Check back for updates on this developing story

This story was originally published November 11, 2020 at 9:46 AM.