San Diego County is offering free sandbags to residents who need help avoiding flooding or erosion, as the region waits for the first major rainfall of the season forecast for Wednesday evening.
Officials have listed a dozen locations with free bags and sand, including the Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Station. Chief Mike Smitt said sandbags are only a temporary fix to divert water away from areas where soil tends to erode or water tends to pool.
"They won't build a dam or stop water," Smith said. "It's just a sandbag, so there's still gaps and void spaces that can get around them. But they'll move the majority of the body of water away, and that will help preserve some of the soil and (protect from) erosion."
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Smith advised residents to arrive early, bring their own shovels and fill the bags only about halfway to allow them to fill in any gaps when stacking.
The county has 25 locations where people can pick up empty bags. The dozen locations with both bags and sand available are:
Bonita/Sunnyside:4900 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902. 619-479-2346
Boulevard: 40080 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905. 619-390-2020
De Luz: 39524 Daily Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028. 760-728-3140 (Not staffed 24/7)
De Luz: 39431 De Luz Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028. 760-728-2422
Fallbrook: 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028. 760-723-2024
Lakeside River Park Conservancy: 12108 Industry Road, Lakeside CA 92040. 619-443-4770 (Closed over the weekend)
Palomar Mountain: 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mtn., CA 92060. 760-742-3701
Ramona: 3410 Dye Road, Ramona, CA 92065. 760-789-0107
Ramona: 24462 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065. 760-789-9465
Rincon: 16971 Highway 76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061. 760-742-3243
Valley Center: 28205 N. Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center, CA 92082. 760-751-7605
Warner Springs: 35227 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086. 760-782-9113
The city of San Diego is also offering empty sandbags in each City Council district. Residents must show an ID with a street address. The bags are available 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the following locations:
Council District 1: Standley Recreation Center, 3585 Governor Drive, San Diego 92122.
Council District 2: Robb Athletic Field, 2525 Bacon St., San Diego 92107.
Council District 3: Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive, San Diego 92102.
Council District 4: Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, 6401 Skyline Drive, San Diego 92114.
Council District 5: Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive, San Diego 92131.
Council District 6: North Clairemont Recreation Center, 4421 Bannock Ave., San Diego 92117.
Council District 7: Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego 92120.
Council District 8: San Ysidro Community Activity Center, 179 Diza Road, San Diego 92173.
Council District 9: City Heights Recreation Center, 4380 Landis St., San Diego 92105.
