The 14th annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will be Friday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 23.

The week is a good opportunity for Cullman County residents to restock emergency supplies in homes, workplaces and vehicles. Certain emergency preparedness items will be exempt from the state’s 4-percent state sales tax, and in some cities and counties, local taxes are waived on those items as well. The tax holiday means shoppers can save as much as 10% on these items in some areas of the state.
From 12:01 a.m. Feb. 21 to midnight Feb. 23, 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.

“Severe weather can occur at any time, in any season,” said Alabama Retail President Rick Brown. “The February tax holiday helps Alabama consumers remember to stock and prepare emergency kits to be ready when storms strike.”

Local hardware stores are prepared to serve their communities in the event of a natural disaster.

“Customers come in and buy all the flashlights, batteries, kerosene, lamp oil and whatever they need” after a storm hits, said Frank Davies, owner of Little Hardware in Mountain Brook. In his experience, though, Davies said few know about or take advantage of Alabama’s annual severe weather sales tax holiday. “They don’t prepare. They wait until it happens and then scramble” to deal with the aftermath, he added. Many of the items that ready.gov recommends for a basic disaster supply kit are tax-free in Alabama Feb. 21-23.