Tallahassee, Fla., (WTXL)- June first marks the beginning of hurricane season, and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this year could see and above average number of storms.
The time for preparation is now.
"In hurricane season if the storm's approaching it's gonna be too late to start your preparedness, develop a kit." Leon County Emergency Management Director Kevin Peters says, "Develop a disaster bucket, and pay attention to the news as we head in to hurricane season."
This weekend, filling that bucket could be cheaper than ever.
Starting on Friday June 2 Governor Rick Scott has sanctioned a Tax Holiday. Survival gear will not be subject to sales tax in the sunshine state for the duration of the weekend. The hope being that Floridians will not hesitate to stock up on the things they need.
“The 2017 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is an opportunity for Floridians to purchase supplies in preparation for a variety of storm-related activity,” says Leon Biegalski, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue.
Preparation, City of Tallahassee Fire Chief Jerome Gaines, says can be crucial in the event of an emergency.
"There are only so many first responders, we have a large community here." Chief Gaines explains, "We can't be everywhere at once so people have to be able to stand on their own for a while until we can get resources there. We recognize the value of it and how important it is to give people comfort and us peace of mind."
As you prepare your disaster kit, the following items will be available without sales tax from June 2- June 4:
- Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
-Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas- this includes flash lights, lanterns and candles)
-Coolers and ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)
-Batteries, including rechargeable batteries (AA-cell, D-cell, C-cell, 6 volt and 9 volt)
-Tarpaulines (tarps), plastic drop cloths, waterproof sheeting
For a complete list of the items affected by the tax holiday, review the Florida Department of Revenue's Tax Information Publication.
