What to Buy During Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

This year, the Florida House passed the largest tax relief package in Florida’s history. The package included the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. This holiday gives residents with the opportunity to purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies tax-free during two 14-day sales tax holidays.

No matter if you’ve been in Florida for years, or just moved to the state, this is a great time to prepare for hurricane season.

The 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays will take place Saturday, May 27, through Friday, June 9, and Saturday, Aug. 26, through Friday, Sept. 8.

Eligible items

Eligible items include:

• Pet leashes, collars and muzzles costing $20 or less;
• Common household items such as paper towels, toilet paper and soap costing $30 or less;
• Flashlights, lanterns and pet beds costing $40 or less;
• Batteries and weather radios costing $50 or less;
• Coolers costing $60 or less;
• Smoke detectors costing $70 or less;
• Tarps costing $100 or less; and
• Generators costing $3,000 or less.

Click here for the complete list.

Hurricane history in Florida

During the past three years, four hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, including Hurricane Michael, the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. as a Category 5 since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

If you are unsure of what to do when disaster strikes, it’s a good idea to make a plan sooner rather than later.

Here are some stories we’ve covered in the past that can help you learn more about hurricanes in Florida:

Worst Hurricanes Of All Time: Top 5 Most Destructive Storms

Get ready for hurricane season by learning more about the worst hurricanes of all time — and how to prepare for them.

Studying Tree: Determining What Trees Fall During Hurricanes

Learn more about a University of Florida study that determined what trees fall during hurricanes and what to do about it.

Pinellas Residents Can Apply for Barrier Island Re-entry Program

Learn more about the Barrier Island Re-entry Program. A program that attempts to cut down on looting after a hurricane.

Tampa Bay Hurricane Help

We’ve compiled a list of helpful links to help you find Tampa Bay Hurricane Help.

Hurricane History In The Tampa Bay Area

Learn more about the hurricane history in Tampa Bay before the new hurricane season begins on June 1.

Why Don’t Hurricanes Directly Hit Tampa Bay?

Have you ever wondered why hurricanes don’t directly hit Tampa Bay? Turns out, there’s an old legend behind this phenomenom.