CULLMAN – Alabama will hold its sixth annual severe weather preparedness tax holiday, starting today, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 at midnight, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain severe weather preparedness items free of state sales tax. The City of Cullman and Cullman County will also waive taxes for the holiday, meaning consumers can save 10 percent on certain items.
According to the Alabama Retail Association, the tax-exempt items include the following priced at $60 or less:
- Flashlights, lanterns
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Batteries
- First-aid kits
- Cell phone charger
- Two-way radios
- Manual can openers
- Tarps and plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Fire extinguishers
- Tie-down kits, bungee cords or rope
Other tax-free items include: Coolers, ice packs, plywood, window film and smoke/fire/carbon monoxide detectors. Portable generators and power cords costing $1,000 or less are also tax-free. See: https://alabamaretail.org/news/2017-severe-weather-tax-holiday.
For a full list of tax-free items and participating cities and counties, go to: https://alabamaretail.org/resources/salestaxholidays/severe-weather-preparedness/.
Did you know late February tornadoes have happened in Cullman?
February tornadoes are fairly rare, but they can occur. Three such occurrences were the Feb. 22, 1983 F1 and F2 tornadoes that affected southwestern Cullman County, and the Feb. 23, 1975 F2 tornado that affected northeastern Cullman County.
On the afternoon of Feb. 23, 1975, a brief tornado touched down in northeastern Cullman County. No fatalities occurred, but several mobile homes and site-built homes were damaged, mostly in the Jones Chapel area. The tornado was brief- traveling only 2 miles- and was rated an F 2 on the Fujita scale.
On the afternoon of Feb. 22, 1983, two brief tornadoes touched down in southwestern Cullman County, near Hanceville. The first was rated an F2 and traveled 1-and-a-half miles, damaging roofs, businesses, homes and cars. Around $150,000 dollars in damage was sustained. The second was rated an F1 and traveled 1 mile, damaging trees and at least one mobile home. No injuries or fatalities were reported from either of these tornadoes.
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