Today marks the first day of the hurricane preparedness tax break holiday. This sales tax holiday allows Florida residents to purchase items for disaster-preparation such as flashlights and batteries sales tax-free. The tax break begins today, May 29th, and lasts through June 4th.
Listed below are some items exempt from sales tax:
- Batteries
- Generators
- Fuel containers
- Tarps
- Ice Packs
- Flashlights/Lanterns
- Reusable Ice
- Radios
- Candles
- Coolers/ice chests
Click here for specifics on qualifying items
According to FEMA’s storm-prep checklist, items to have in your disaster-preparedness kit should include portable radios, flashlights, batteries, fuel, multi-purpose tools, copies of personal documents, personal hygiene items, first aid kit, and about two weeks worth of medications, food, and water.
This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted the 2020 storm season will be above-normal. NOAA has estimated 13-19 named storms and approximately 3-6 could become major hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, so elected officials are encouraging citizens to prepare ahead of time. As stated by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in this article by NOAA, “As Americans focus their attention on a safe and healthy reopening of our country, it remains critically important that we also remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season”. Despite current circumstances, preparing for the coming hurricane season is important for Florida residents. Make sure to maintain social distancing standards while preparing you and your family for the upcoming hurricane season.
Although the current hurricane season hasn’t officially started tropical storm Arthur formed early on May 16th this year off of the Atlantic Ocean; along with, tropical store Bertha which formed on May 27th and made landfall in North Carolina. PGT Innovations encourages its customers and Florida residents to prepare ahead of time.
PGT Innovations cares about your safety during hurricane season, so we’ve put together a 2020 Hurricane Guide that allows you to learn how to prepare before, during, and after a storm.
