Storms coming: Florida disaster preparedness sales tax holiday begins June 1

The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts this Saturday, and to help Floridians prepare, the first Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will also begin. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, consumers can stock up on supplies without paying sales taxes. If you miss the first tax holiday, a second one will start on Saturday, August 24, and run through Friday, September 6. A team of scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an 85% chance of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2024, with 17-25 named storms and 8-13 hurricanes, 4-7 of which could become Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricanes. The 30-year (1991-2020) seasonal averages are 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 Category 3 or stronger hurricanes. The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to have above-normal activity due to several factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, development of La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds, and less wind shear—all of which favor tropical storm formation. The peak of the season is September 10, with the most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center. It's too early to determine if there will be any impact on Florida or the U.S. from the tropical waves. Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is especially important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season. This year's tax-exempt list includes several items such as flashlights, generators, batteries, pet food, and various household products.

Below is a list of all qualifying items:

Selling for $20 or less

•Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)

Selling for $40 or less

• Candles

• Flashlights

• Lanterns

Selling for $50 or less

• Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios

• Gas or diesel fuel tanks

• Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only: ○ AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt

Selling for $60 or less

• Nonelectric food storage coolers

• Portable power banks

Selling for $70 or less

•Smoke detectors or smoke alarms

• Fire extinguishers

• Carbon monoxide detectors

Selling for $100 or less

• Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting

• Ground anchor systems

• Ratchet straps

• Tie-down kits

• Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting

Selling for $3,000 or less

• Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage

FPL Storm Tips: Keep your family and home safe during hurricane season