What to do with your sandbags after a storm

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall into Mexico last Thursday marking the first impact in this year's 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Cities across the Rio Grande Valley hosted sandbag distribution events to prepare for Alberto in anticipation of heavy rainfall.

More than 18,000 sandbags were distributed last week to Edinburg residents and distributions continued across the Valley, according to the city's Public Works Department.

Residents may now be wondering what to do with their sandbags after the storm and how to properly store them for future use.

Preserving sandbags for future use

The City of Edinburg is encouraging residents and other Valley cities to be smart with their sandbags and be storm-ready for the next tropical event.

"If you are planning to re-use them, it is really crucial to preserve them," said Vince Romero, Director of Public Works with the City of Edinburg.

Sandbags that have come in contact with flood water can become contaminated with bacteria, mold and mildew causing the bag to deteriorate.

Romero urges residents to dry the bags in order to avoid contamination.

"You want to let them dry out. I always say elevate them. Put them on a pallet, put them on a shelf, and put them somewhere where they can dry out thoroughly," Romero said.

After letting the bags dry out, Romero suggests the following steps to preserve them:

• Wipe and clean the bag down to remove extra debris
• Store the bags in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight

Sandbags can be re-used only if they are clean and dry. The bags can be restored whether filled or empty.

"Once it dries out, the mold and mildew will die, Romero said. "But if you just leave it constantly wet it's going to eventually grow mildew."

Other ways to use sand for your home

Romero shares other ways to re-purpose and use the sand that could help with home improvement:

• Around a yard to level uneven surfaces and low spots
• On a driveway during winter months to avoid freezing and traction
• On areas that are prone to erosion or rain
• As mulch around plants to retain moisture
• To reduce weed growth in a yard

Properly disposing sandbags

Residents who do not plan to re-use the bags can contact their local Public Works department to properly dispose of the bag at a landfill.