After the past 18 months of tornadoes, winter storms and shelter-in-place lifestyles, you might want to add the Emergency Preparedness Supplies Tax Free Holiday Weekend to your calendar. From 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, until midnight on Monday, April 26, the State of Texas has declared “anyone can purchase certain emergency preparedness supplies tax free anywhere supplies are sold.”
Ironically, the weekend is timely with Friday’s threat of thunderstorms, hail and more uneasy weather conditions. It’s a reminder of how Texas weather is tricky to say the least and can result in loss of power and the need for basic supplies.
It was just a couple of months ago when Winter Storm Uri resulted in generator-envy throughout North Texas.
While there is no limit on the number of quality items folks can purchase, there are a couple of restrictions:
- The item must be both delivered to, and paid for, by the customer during the exemption period; or the customer orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.
- No single item may cost more than $3,000.
If you’re wondering if a wine chiller, a pair of stilettos or a new flat-screen TV qualifies, rethink your idea of necessities. To help you, here is a list of some of the items that fit the bill:
Less than $3,000
- Portable generators
Less than $300
- Hurricane shutters
- Emergency ladders
Less than $75
- Batteries, single or multi-pack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
- First aid kits
- Fuel containers
- Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
- Hatchets
- Axes
- Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
- Nonelectric coolers and ice chests for food storage
- Non-electric can openers
- Portable self-powered light sources (hand cranked flashlights)
- Portable self-powered radios, including two-way and weather
- band radios
- Reusable and artificial ice products
- Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors
- Tarps and other plastic sheeting
The state has also provided a checklist for your shopping that includes:
Essential
- Water
- Fire extinguishers
- First Aid Kit
- Manual can opener
- Flashlights
- Food
Useful
- Warm clothes and sturdy shoes
- Sleeping bags and/or blankets
- Battery and/or hand crank radios
- Cellphone chargers
- Cash
- Tools
Personal
- Prescriptions
- Personal documents
- Treats
- Children’s toys
- Personal hygiene and sanitation items
- Pet items