San Diego County

LIST: Where to pick up free sandbags in San Diego County

Residents are also urged to call ahead to double-check availability and some stations may have a limited supply

NOTE: This list was up to date as of Feb. 5. Please check with your local municipality for the latest information on sandbags.

As residents across the county of San Diego are recovering from a damaging storm, another bout of rain is headed toward the region, and officials want people to be prepared.

Several cities are offering sandbags to those who may be impacted by the next bout of rain. Here's what to know:

The city of San Diego lifted evacuation warnings for the neighborhoods in the southeastern portion of the city that flooded during last week’s storm. While Thursday's storm passed with few problems, both the city and county are still asking people to be prepared. NBC 7's meteorologist Brooke Martell explains what resources are available.

City of San Diego

City residents can pick up sand and sandbags from their district locations. Sandbags are limited to 10 bags per household or business. Empty bags will also be available.

You can go to the following locations during standard operating hours while supplies last:

Council District 1
Pacific Beach Recreation Center
1405 Diamond St.
San Diego 92109

Council District 2
North Clairemont Recreation Center
4421 Bannock Ave.
San Diego 92117

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 4
Encanto Recreation Center
6508 Wunderlin Ave.
San Diego 92114
Pre-filled sandbags will be available on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Council District 4
Mountain View Community Center
641 S. Boundary St.
San Diego 92113
Pre-filled sandbags will be available on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Council District 4
Mountain View/Beckwourth Library
721 San Pasqual St.,
San Diego 92113

Council District 5
Scripps Ranch Recreation Center
11454 Blue Cypress Drive
San Diego 92131

Council District 6
Standley Recreation Center
3585 Governor Drive
San Diego 92122

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

Council District 9
College-Rolando Library
6600 Montezuma Road,
San Diego 92115

Unincorporated San Diego County

The county recommends residents looking for sand call ahead to their nearest station due to limited supply. At locations with sand, the bags must be filled yourself, so bring your own shovel, the county said.

Sand & bags (must be filled yourself)

  • Bonita: Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Station #38: 4900 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902, P: 619-479-2346
  • Boulevard: Boulevard Fire Station #47: 40080 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905, P: 619-390-2020
  • De Luz: De Luz Fire Station #16: 39431 De Luz Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 P: 760-728-2422
  • Dulzura: Dulzura Fire Station #30: 17304 Highway 94, Dulzura, CA 91917, P: 619-468-3391
  • Fallbrook: Pala Mesa Fire Station #4, 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028, P: 760-723-2005
  • Julian: Julian-Cuyamaca: Fire Station #56, 3407 Hwy 79, Julian, CA 92036, P: 760-765-2885
  • Lakeside: Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy, 12108 Industry Road, Lakeside 92040 P:619443-4770. 
    *Limit 10 sandbags per household. Call ahead to confirm hours and availability.
  • Palomar Mountain: Palomar Mountain Fire Station #79, 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mtn., CA 92060, P: 760-742-3701
  • Potrero: Potrero Fire Station #31 25130 Highway 94, Potrero, CA 91963 P: 619-478-5544
  • Ramona: Ramona Fire Station #81, 24462 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065, T: 760-789-9465
  • Ramona: Ramona Fire Station #82, 3410 Dye Road, Ramona, CA 92065, P: 760-789-0107
  • Rincon: Rincon Fire Station #70: 16971 Highway 76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061, P: 760-742-3243
  • Spring Valley: San Miguel Fire Station 15: 2850 Via Orange Way, Spring Valley, CA 91978 (8am-5pm)
  • Spring Valley: San Miguel Fire Station 16: 905 Gillespie Drive Spring Valley, CA 91977 (8am-5pm)
  • Valley Center: Valley Center Fire Station #2, 28205 N. Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center, CA 92082, P: 760-751-7605
  • Warner Springs: Sunshine Summit Fire Station #59, 35227 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086, P: 760-782-9113

Bags only

  • Alpine: Alpine Fire Station #17 1364 Tavern Road Alpine, CA 91901 P: 619-445-2635
  • Borrego Springs: Ocotillo Wells Fire Station #61 5841 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 P: 760-767-7430
  • Borrego Springs: Borrego Springs Station #60, 2324 Stirrup Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, P: 760-767-5436
  • Campo: Campo Fire Station #40 31577 Highway 94, Campo, CA 91906 P: 619-478-5516
  • Campo: Lake Morena Fire Station #42 29690 Oak Drive, Campo, CA 91906 P: 619-478-5960
  • Descanso: Descanso Fire Station #45 24592 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso, CA 91916 P: 619-445-7508
  • El Cajon: Harbison Canyon Fire Station #24 551 Harbison Canyon Road, El Cajon, CA 92019 P: 619-445-5001
  • Escondido: Deer Springs Fire Station #11 8709 Circle R Drive, Escondido, CA 92026 P: 760-749-8001
  • Escondido: Deer Springs Fire Station #12 1321 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 P: 760-741-5512
  • Escondido: Deer Springs Fire Station #13 10308 Meadow Glen Way East, Escondido, CA 92026 P: 760-751-0820
  • Escondido: Miller Fire Station #15 9127 W. Lilac Road, Escondido, CA 92025 P: 760-728-8532
  • Flynn Springs: Flynn Springs Fire Station#21 9711 Flynn Springs Road, El Cajon, CA 92021 P: 619-443-7121
  • Jacumba: Jacumba Fire Station #43 1255 Jacumba St., Jacumba, CA 91934 P: 619-766-4535
  • Jamul: Jamul Fire Station #36 14024 Peaceful Valley Ranch, Jamul, CA 91935 P: 619-669-6580
  • Jamul: Deerhorn Fire Station #37 2383 Honeysprings Road, Jamul, CA 91935 P: 619-468-3030
  • Julian: Shelter Valley Fire Station #62, 7260 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA 92036 P: 760-765-0155
  • Laguna: Mt. Laguna Fire Station #49 33947 Mt. Laguna Drive, Mt Laguna, CA 91948 P: 619-473-8281
  • Mount Woodson: Mount Woodson Fire Station #86 16310 State Highway 67, Ramona, CA 92065 P: 760-789-1150
  • Pine Valley: Pine Valley Fire Station #44 28850 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley, CA 91962 P: 619-578-6621
  • Ranchita: Ranchita Fire Station #58 37370 Montezuma Valley Road, Ranchita, CA 92066 P: 760-782-3467 *Call ahead to confirm hours and availability.
  • Ramona: Intermountain Fire Station #85, 25858 A Highway 78, Ramona, CA 92065 P: 760-789-3710
  • Ramona: Ramona Fire Station #80, 829 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065 P: 760-789-8914
  • San Pasqual: San Pasqual Fire Station #84 17701 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92025 P: 858-573-1322
  • Warner Springs: Warner Springs Fire Station #52 31049 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 P: 760-782-3560

Carlsbad

Provides sandbags only when heavy rain is forecast. There is a 10 sandbags per household limit and those seeking sandbags must show proof of Carlsbad residency.

Bags only

Fire Station 3
3465 Trailblazer Way

Fire Station 4
6885 Batiquitos Drive

Fire Station 6
7201 Rancho Santa Fe Road

Oceanside

The city provides free sand and sandbags to Oceanside residents with an ID. They must be filled yourself.

Moody's El Corazon Recycling
3210 Oceanside Boulevard
Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Call ahead at 760-433-3316

Encinitas

The city of Encinitas will provide up to 10 sandbags while supplies last. They must be filled yourself.

Public Works Department Parking Lot
160 Calle Magdalena,
Encinitas, CA 92024
Open 24/day

Leucadia Roadside Park
860 N Coast Hwy 101,
Encinitas, CA 92024

Poway

The city provides empty bags and sand at the following locations. The city recommends following their social media accounts for the latest info.

  • West side of Midland Road south of Old Poway Park (in the Farmer's Market parking lot)
  • South side of Garden Road, east of Floral Avenue (across from Garden Road School)
  • Old Coach Road trailhead north of Butterfield Trail

Del Mar

The city of Del Mar offers sandbags during emergency situations at the Public Works Department, 2240 Jimmy Durante Boulevard. Del Mar, CA 92014. They are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Call ahead to verify they will be available. You must fill the bags yourself.

Vista

 Free unfilled sandbags (10 per household) are available to Vista residents with ID. Sand can be purchased at home supply stores, the city said.

Public Works facility
1165 E. Taylor Street
Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

San Marcos

The city offers San Marcos residents up to 20 free, fill-your-own sandbags at the Public Works Division parking lot, 201 Mata Way, San Marcos, CA 92069

Escondido

The City of Escondido provides sandbags at the Escondido Sports Center in Kit Carson Park, located at 3315 Bear Valley Parkway. Sandbags will be available Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is 10 bag limit per person.

Coronado

Bandel Park
1000 J Avenue (Alameda & 10th St)
Limit of 10 sandbags
Bring driver's license for residence check

Sign up for city manager updates here to find out when and where sandbags will be available. During the Jan. 22 storm, sandbags were available at the following locations:

  • First Street and Alameda
  • Fourth Street and Alameda
  • North Beach
  • Cays Park, across from the Fire Station

National City

Fire Station 34 (343 E. 16th St)
5 bags per City of National City household or business

Chula Vista

1800 Maxwell Road
Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Proof of Chula Vista residency required
10 sandbags per household

El Cajon

When sandbags are available, they can be picked up at the Public Works Operations Yard. ID is required for up to 10 bags with sand, which must be filled yourself. Available Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and alternate Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. 

Public Works Operations
1060 Vernon Way
El Cajon, CA 92020

La Mesa

Empty sandbags and sand are available for residents of the incorporated area of the City of La Mesa with valid La Mesa ID prior to an anticipated rain event. Residents are limited to 10 bags. Available Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and alternate Fridays from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Public Works Operations Yard
8152 Commercial Street
La Mesa, CA 91942

More locations can be found here.

A new local assistance center is open in the Mountain View area to help flood victims. NBC 7's Dana Williams reports on Feb. 3, 2023.
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