By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Locals looking to stock up on emergency supplies ahead of the upcoming tornado and hurricane seasons will have a chance to do so while saving some money, as the state and several area cities are holding the eighth-annual severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday.

The tax-free weekend will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 22, and will end at midnight on Feb. 24. During the holiday, the state will waive its 4-percent sales tax, Shelby County will waive its sales tax and many municipalities will also waive their local sales taxes on certain emergency preparedness items.

Tax-exempt items include the following items 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

-Coolers

-Ice packs

-Plywood

-Window film

-Smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors

-Portable generators and power cords costing $1,000 and less

 

For a full list of items included in the tax-free weekend, visit alabamaretail.org/alabamasalestaxholidays.

 

The following Shelby County municipalities are waiving their local sales taxes during the tax-free weekend:

-Columbiana

-Pelham

-Calera

-Chelsea

-Westover

-Harpersville

-Vincent

-Wilsonville

-Montevallo

-Helena

-Hoover