City of Tampa Activates Emergency Hotline to Answer Questions About Tropical Storm Elsa and Help Residents Get Prepared

As Tropical Storm Elsa approaches our region, the City of Tampa is activating its Citizen Information Center Hotline to help residents get prepared.

Tampa’s Emergency Hotline will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6 to answer questions and share preparedness information with the public in response to Tropical Storm Elsa. The hotline can be reached at: 1-833-TPA-INFO (872-4636).

Call takers will be available to answer questions in both English and Spanish and assist residents with preparedness information related to sandbag distribution, finding their evacuation zone, shelter location(s), enrolling in AlertTampa, and more.

The Tampa area is currently under a Storm Surge Warning and a Tropical Storm Warning. As of 11pm Monday, the National Hurricane Center reported that there’s a danger of life-threatening storm surge along Florida’s west coast on Tuesday night and Wednesday, with a projected storm surge of 2 to 4 feet. Tropical storm force winds are also anticipated, with the Earliest Reasonable Arrival Time for Tampa between 4 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The City of Tampa’s Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor developments of Tropical Storm Elsa from the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service. Residents should prepare now for potential storm surge, flooding, and tropical storm force winds.

Those with questions are encouraged to contact Tampa’s Emergency Hotline at 1-833-TPA-INFO (872-4636) or visit the website for more info at: tampa.gov/Hurricane 

Residents can also text TAMPAREADY to 888-777 or TAMPALISTA (for Spanish) to 888-777 to receive real-time emergency text alerts. 

Sandbag Distribution

As a reminder, sandbag distribution for Tampa residents will resume at the same locations today, from 8 a.m. until noon while supplies last. ID proving residence within City of Tampa limits is required. Limit of 10 bags per person. Locations:

• Al Barnes Park South, 2902 N. 32nd St. 
• Himes Avenue Complex, 4501 S. Himes Ave. 
• MacFarlane Park, 1700 North MacDill Avenue

For more storm readiness info, visit tampa.gov/hurricane