LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A little nudging for storm prep shouldn’t be necessary after Matthew battered Florida’s east coast in 2016, Irma essentially drenched the entire state in 2017, and Michael ground up a chunk of the Panhandle last year.
Still, Floridians will have seven days to build a hurricane-season stockpile --- including batteries, flashlights and radios --- free of sales taxes, beginning Friday.
“You’ll have the opportunity to get pretty much whatever you need. It is very important to do so,” said James Miller, the Florida Retail Federation’s external affairs director. “Make sure you have your disaster preparedness and emergency kits ready to go, because we ultimately will have a storm at some point.”
The discount is part of a tax-relief package (HB 7123) that lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved earlier this month.
The week-long sales tax holiday is expected to save shoppers $800,000, nearly one-tenth of the total tax-package savings projected for the fiscal year beginning July 1, according to state economists.
The discounted items will likely coincide with hurricane-season enticements from businesses, such as Lowes, Home Depot and Harbor Freight, that are already highlighting the arrival of the six-month 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins Saturday.
“During that time, obviously all of the stores will be stocked in preparation for the holiday and in preparation hopefully for no upcoming storms,” Miller said.
The discounted supplies are just part of what Floridians need to be prepared for any disaster, said Mark Wool, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
“You need to be able to be self-sufficient, without the aid of anyone else, including EMS (emergency medical services), for three to five days,” Wool said. “We need a gallon of water per person and pet per day, non-perishable foods, flashlights, battery-powered radios, batteries for your flashlight, prescriptions, and make sure your gas tank is full.”
Jim Zingale, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue, encouraged all Floridians to exploit the “holiday.”
“While living in and visiting Florida offers many benefits and advantages, it is important to keep the potential for severe weather hazards and threats in mind,” Zingale said.
Items eligible for the tax break from May 31 through June 6 are:
$10 or less
- Reusable ice (ice packs)
$20 or less
- Any portable self-powered light source (flashlights, lanterns, candles)
$25 or less
- Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
$30 or less
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries (excluding automobile and boat batteries)
- AA and AAA
- C-cell
- D-cell
- 6-volt
- 9-volt
- Coolers and ice chests (food storage, non-electrical)
$50 or less
- Tarpaulins (tarps)
- Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems
- Tie-down kits
- Bungee cords
- Ratchet straps
- Radios (powered by battery, solar, or hand crank, including two-way and weather band)
$750 or less
- Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
Always exempt
- Bottled water (unflavored, uncarbonated)
- Canned food, including meats, vegetables, fruit, peanut butter, and other nonperishable items
- First aid kits
- Prescription and non-prescription medications (all RX and most over-the-counter are exempt)
- Baby food and formula
The rental or repair of items doesn’t qualify for the exemption, and items sold at airports and theme parks are not included in the deal.
