CULLMAN – Now is the time for Alabama residents to check their severe weather kits to ensure their readiness for this year’s storm season.
The fifth annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which provides Alabama residents the opportunity to purchase approved items free of state sales tax, will begin Friday, Feb. 26 at 12:01 a.m. and end on Sunday, Feb. 28 at midnight.
Both the City of Cullman and Cullman County have opted to participate in the holiday which will make the approved items exempt from city and county sales tax also. This additional incentive speaks to the high importance placed on home storm kits by governing officials. Citizens affected by the April 2011 tornadoes understand the significance of preparation.
Many expected items are found on the exemption list including batteries of various sizes, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, flashlights, fire extinguishers and tarps. One item, often overlooked, is a non-electric can opener which, during a power outage, makes life considerably easier.
A battery-powered radio is considered by many residents to be essential in their storm kits.
Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Phyllis Little shared, “The NOAA radio is the best personal source of severe weather information. It can be programmed to provide the alerts for your local area.
“Everyone seems to own a cell phone and when power is out for extended periods, we all look for a way to ‘plug in.’ Having a backup power source is essential.”
Little suggests, “If you have young children, a stock of emergency glow sticks may be your ideal purchase. These can be given to children when the power is off or when going to a storm shelter. They are safe and inexpensive alternatives to a flashlight that requires batteries and may be dropped and broken.”
Portable generators, priced less than $1,000, are also sales tax-exempt during the holiday.
Little encourages residents to take advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday, stating it provides “citizens an ideal opportunity to purchase items to build or add to their disaster supply kits and save money.”
For a complete list of exempt items, go to http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/WPHolidayQuickRefSheet16.pdf.
