Cal OES Issues List of Where You Can Find Sandbags in Your County

Details: Last Updated: Thursday, 01 February 2024 17:25; Published: Thursday, 01 February 2024 17:20

Cal OES on Where You Can Find Sandbags in Your County

February 1, 2024 – As a series of storms approaches the state, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and local partners are coordinating sandbag locations in impacted counties. Cal OES continues to monitor the weather around the clock for possible impacts to communities and reminds all Californians to stay prepared for possible flooding. Sandbags can reduce the risk of damage to property.

Sandbags are often provided by local government. Contact your city, county, fire department or public works agency to find out where you can get sandbags in your area. Double check what materials they may or may not provide.

View video here.

See current sandbag locations below and proper use instructions:

Mariposa County Offers Sand and Sandbag Filling Locations for Area Residents

Madera County Offers Sand and Sandbag Filling Locations for Area Residents

COUNTY	LOCATION	ADDRESS	CITY
Calaveras	Arnold Maintenance Yard	1119 Linebaugh Rd	Arnold
Calaveras	Glencoe Maintenance Yard	16151 Highway 26	Glencoe
Calaveras	Jenny Lind Yard	11558 Milton Rd	Valley Springs
Calaveras	San Andreas Rd Yard	891 Mountain Ranch Rd	San Andreas
Calaveras	Mountain Ranch Community Center Parking Lot	7869 Whiskey Slide Rd	Mountain Ranch
Calaveras	Murphys Fire Station	37 Jones Street	Murphys
Calaveras	Valley Springs Vista Del Lago cul-de-sac	313 Vista Del Lago	Valley Springs
Calaveras	Copperopolis Fire Department	370 Main Street	Copperopolis
El Dorado	Fire Station 85	1050 Wilson Boulevard	El Dorado Hills
El Dorado	Fire Station 89	3200 County Club Drive	Cameron Park
Fresno	County Public Works Yard	Multiple Locations
Glenn		across from the Fire Dept. on 1st St.	Hamilton
Glenn	Public Works Willows Maintenance Yard	777 N. Colusa St.	Willows
Glenn	Orland City Maintenance Yard	Corner of County Road 200 and County Road M.	Orland
Mariposa	Mormon Bar	4621 Highway 49 South	Mariposa
Mariposa	Don Pedro	9729 Merced Falls Rd.	La Grange
Mariposa	Fire Department	10293 Ferry Rd	Coulterville
Mariposa	Catheys Valley Park	2820 Highway 140	Catheys Valley
Merced		multiple locations
Napa		multiple locations
Nevada	Nevada County Warehouse	the corner of Highway 49 and East Broad Street	Nevada City
Nevada	Penn Valley Fire Protection District	10513 Spenceville Road	Penn Valley
Nevada	North San Juan Community Hall	10057 Reservoir Street	North San Juan
Nevada	Higgins Fire Department	10106 Combie Road	Auburn
Placer		Multiple Locations
Sacramento		Multiple Locations
Santa Cruz	Fire Station 2 (Parking Lot)	1103 Soquel Ave	Santa Cruz
Sutter	City Corporation Yard	N Street in Live Oak	Live Oak
Sutter	Meridian Fire Department	1100 Third Street	Meridian
Sutter	Oswald-Tudor Fire Department	1280 Barry Road	Oswald-Tudor
Sutter	Pleasant Grove Fire Department	310 Howsley Road	Pleasant Grove
Sutter	Community Center at the End of Del Monte		Robbins
Sutter	County Sign Yard	3098 Acacia Ave.	Sutter
Sutter	Road Maintenance Yard	2560 Pacific Ave.	Trowbridge
Sutter	Corporation Yard	1185 Market Street	Yuba City
Sutter	Yuba City Road Yard	275 Samuel Drive	Yuba City
Tehama	Public Works Department	774 Antelope Blvd	Red Bluff
Tehama	Red Bluff Library (BAGS ONLY)	8145th Street	Red Bluff
Tehama		645 Madison Street	Red Bluff
Tulare	Kings River 2	3811 Ave 400	Kingsburg
Tulare	Fire Station 3	40404 Rd 80	Dinuba
Tulare	Fire Station 4	40779 Rd 128	Cutler-Orosi
Tulare	Lemon Cove Fire Station 13	32490 CA 198	Lemon Cove
Tulare	Fire Station 14	41412 S Fork Dr	Three Rivers
Tulare	Fire Station	19603 Ave 228	Lindsay
Tulare	West Olive Fire Station – 19	22315 Ave 152	Porterville
Tulare	Doyle Colony Fire Station 20	1551 Success Drive	Porterville
Tulare	Fire Station 25	2082 Foster Dr	Tulare
Tulare	Pixley Fire Station 27	200 N Park Dr	Pixley

Know When to use Sandbags

Sandbags have a variety of uses, but individuals and families should know their level of risk. MyHazards can help all Californians understand the types of risks that could impact their properties and neighborhoods. Also, while building a sandbag barrier may alleviate flooding into your home, everyone should continue to follow local authorities when they issue evacuation warnings and orders.

How to Use Sandbags

During heavy and sustained rainfall, high water and flooding can cause damage to homes and businesses. With proper preparation, you can reduce the risk of damage to your property. Cal OES offers these reminders on how to use sandbags safely during the next storm.

How to Fill Sandbags

It’s important to use sandbags when you live in an at-risk area for flooding. Follow these safety tips for filling sandbags:

Wear Protective Gear: When filling sandbags, wear gloves to protect your hands from blisters and cuts, wear safety glasses or goggles to prevent getting sand in your eyes and wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling dust particles. If you have a pre-existing respiratory condition, such as asthma, you may need to avoid filling sandbags altogether and seek assistance.

Fill Sandbags Properly: Sandbags should be filled no more than one half to two-thirds full to allow room for the bags to be stacked and to prevent the bags from bursting.
Bring a Partner: Filling sandbags can be tough alone. Grab a friend or relative to assist with holding the bag open and on occasion lifting the bags for transport.
Sandbag Types: There are different types of materials that can be used as sandbags. Burlap and plastic are the most common and, if left unused, can be stored for a long time. The bag material can be a polypropylene, poltyethylene or a polyamide fabric.

Sandbag Soil: There are different types of material to fill sandbags with such as silt, clay, gravel or a mixture of any of these. However, sand has been proven to be an optimal material to help divert the flow of water.

How to Use Sandbags

When using sandbags during a flood, it is important to follow these safety tips to protect yourself and your property:

Stack Sandbags Correctly: It is important to pack the sandbags tightly to create a strong barrier. When stacking sandbags, make sure to stagger the bags, much like laying bricks. This will create a stronger barrier and prevent the bags from tipping over. There are different methods of stacking which serve different functions of protection.

Single Stack: Laying sandbags down like a brick wall. This method can be affective in areas where there is no fast-moving waters or danger of debris flows. This stacking method should not go higher than 1 foot or 3 bags high.

Pyramid Placement: Laying sandbags in a pyramid formation can increase the height of sandbag protection. This method of stacking is primarily used around levees and some rivers to protect communities.

Ringing Sand Boil: Laying sandbags in a half-moon shape around a possible levee or dam seepage. This method is generally used to build up infrastructures ahead of heavy rainfall.

Use Sandbags Appropriately: Sandbags should only be used to create a barrier around the perimeter of a building or to divert water away from the building. They should never be used to plug drains or to redirect water towards other properties.
Monitor the Situation: Monitor water levels and the condition of the sandbags regularly. If the water level rises rapidly or the sandbags start to shift or leak, it may be time to evacuate.
Replace Sandbag Materials: Used sandbag materials can degrade overtime. It’s best to replace all previously used sandbags prior to the next storm.