With Tropical Storm Bertha potentially impacting Mississippi, several locations across the state’s coastline are distributing sandbags to help residents prepare for possible flooding.
Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties are under a tropical storm warning, according to the National Weather Service, while Amite, Pearl River, Pike, and Walthall counties could also be impacted. Bertha is expected to track along the Gulf Coast before making landfall around Wednesday afternoon as a weak tropical storm near southeast Louisiana.
Mississippi’s conditions could include locally heavy rainfall and pockets of flash flooding, which is why local emergency management offices are already working to distribute sandbags to those in the worst of the potential impact zone.
Distribution sites have been announced in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, and Pearl River counties. Most are self-serve, meaning residents should bring their own shovels to fill sandbags. Sandbags can be used to help protect homes and property by creating barriers that prevent or reduce flood damage, divert flowing water and debris, and weigh down structures during high winds.
The following sandbag distribution sites are open to the public.
Pearl River County
- Carriere VFD Fire Station 111 (7414 Hwy. 11 in Carriere)
- Pine Grove VFD Fire Station 71 (86 Pine Grove Rd. in Picayune)
- South East VFD Fire Station 122 (298 Salem Rd. in Picayune)
- Nicholson VFD Fire Station 131 (1981 Hwy. 11 South in Picayune)
- Pearl River County Emergency Operations Center (810 Hwy. 11 South in Poplarville)
- Hancock County Farmers Market (3068 Longfellow Dr. in Bay St. Louis)
- Lakeshore Community Center (6440 Lower Bay Rd. in Bay St. Louis)
- Diamondhead City Hall (5000 Diamondhead Cir. in Diamondhead)
- Hancock County Emergency Operation Center (18333 Highway 603 in Kiln)
- West Hancock Fire Department (16006 Washington St. in Pearlington)
Harrison County
- A.J. Holloway Sports Complex (765 Wells Dr. in Biloxi)
- Fire Station 9 (9370 Oaklawn Rd. in Biloxi)
- Former Water Department Building (195 Main St. in Biloxi)
- Woolmarket Work Center (16395 Old Woolmarket Rd. in Biloxi)
- D’Iberville Work Center (10085 Doris Deno Ave. in D’Iberville)
- Gulfport Fire Station 2 (1200 42nd Ave. in Gulfport)
- Harrison County Road Department (10076 Lorraine Rd. in Gulfport)
- Lyman Work Center (15001 County Farm Rd. in Gulfport)
- Orange Grove Work Center (8300 34th Ave. in Gulfport)
- Long Beach Work Center (605 North Seal Ave. in Long Beach)
Jackson County
- Gautier City Hall (3330 US-90 in Gautier)
- East Roads Department (10825 Hwy. 63 in Moss Point)
- JC Fire Station 21 (3801 Sentinel Dr. in Moss Point)
- JC Fire Station 23 (10701 Forts Lake Rd. in Moss Point)
- New Central Fire Station (4204 Bellview St. in Moss Point)
- Sue Ellen Gym (4131 Sue Ellen St. in Moss Point)
- JC Fire Station 13 (3901 Hwy. 57 South in Ocean Springs)
- Ocean Springs Public Works Department (712 A Pine Dr. in Ocean Springs)
- Andrews Fire Department (1401 Elms St. in Ocean Springs)
- West Divisions Road Department (6900 Washington Ave. in Ocean Springs)
- Jackson County Fairgrounds (2902 Shortcut Rd. in Pascagoula)
- Central Roads Department (8500 Jim Ramsey Rd. in Vancleave)
