The cities of Kent and Auburn will begin handing out free sand and sandbags to residents on Thursday.

Kent residents can get empty sandbags and instructions to fill and place them from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the the city's operations facility at 5821 W. James Street. You can also pick them up on Saturdays in October between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

After you get the bags, you can get sand during daylight at hours at any of the following locations. You need to bring your own shovel.

Old Panther Lake Elementary site, 20831 108th Ave. S.E.

Earthworks Park, 742 E. Titus St.

Home Depot, 26120 104th Ave. S.E.

Totem Middle School, 26630 40th Ave. S.

Grandview Park, 3600 S. 228th St.

Kent residents will be limited to 100 sandbags per household.

The city of Auburn will start making sandbags available to the public at noon, Thursday.

Bags will be available at the following dates and times:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12 p.m. until dusk: Les Gove Community Campus, 910 Ninth St. SE. Sandbags will be located at the SE corner of the park, accessible from 12th St.

Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations: Les Gove Community Campus, 910 Ninth St. SE. Sandbags will be located at the SE corner of the park, accessible from 12th St. Fulmer Field, 5th and K St. NE. Sandbags will be located in the parking lot.

Each customer in Auburn will be limited to 30 bags per trip (approximately a half ton) and will be provided tools and sand to fill their bags.

Volunteers will be on-hand as available to help fill and load bags.

Groups and individuals interested in volunteering to fill sandbags for the public should contact Auburn Emergency Management at 253-876-1925.