Summer is just around the corner and summer in South Florida brings warm temperatures and sunshine, but summer also brings the start of Hurricane Season. Hurricane Season begins in the Atlantic Ocean on June 1st and last until November 30th. Luckily for us here in South Florida, we have managed to avoid hurricanes and tropical storms for the past several years, but its always smart to think ahead and start preparing.
The state of Florida is currently under a Hurricane Tax Holiday until Sunday, June 6th. From now until Sunday certain supplies that are essential to hurricane preparedness are tax free. During this time, shoppers can avoid paying sales tax on these items.
- Reusable ice packs ($20 dollars or less)
- Flashlights and Lanterns ($40 dollars or less)
- Gasoline and Diesel fuel containers ($50 dollars or less)
- Batteries ($50 dollars or less)
- Radios ($50 dollars or less)
- Coolers ($60 dollars or less)
- Tarps ($100 dollars or less)
- Ground anchor systems or tie-down kits ($100 dollars or less)
- Portable generators ($1000 dollars or less)
FEMA has added more items to their storm prep check list, that includes flashlights, batteries, radios, multipurpose tools, emergency fuel, extra phone chargers, emergency contact list, copies of personal documents, medications, food, water, and anything you may need for up to two weeks.
The state of Florida hopes for the best during hurricane season but must also prepare for the worst to ensure all Floridians are safe during a potentially storm.
Tips To Help Prepare For A Storm:
- If you live in an evacuation zone, know where your local shelters are located
- Have a plan in place in case a storm is approaching and start to prepare your home and personal property
- Do not underestimate the strength of a hurricane or tropical storm. A Category One hurricane can bring winds up to 95 mph.
- Start to gather items early that can be useful during a hurricane. Waiting until the last minute can cause people rushing to gathering items and supplies that can potentially be out of stock.
For more information about preparing for a hurricane, our local news station has put together a guide with everything we need to know to prepare in case of a potential storm. To view the guide, click here.
