The City of Troy hopes you will buy a few batteries this weekend. A gas can and first aid kit might not be a bad idea either.

Troy will participate in Alabama’s third annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, beginning Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at midnight.

Shoppers will have the opportunity to buy supplies that will prepare them for any severe weather coming this way free of state and city sales taxes.

The list of eligible items includes generators, batteries (including ones for cell phones), water coolers, cell phone chargers, tarpaulin, duct tape and plywood.

Robyn Wilson, assistant manager of Tractor Supply Company, said it is never too early to prepare for severe weather.

“The earlier the better,” she said. “If you know the season’s coming up, get it early. Because, a lot of times, people come in when we’re expecting severe weather and we’ve run out and they’re just out of luck.”

Tarps, flashlights, batteries and generators fly off the TSC shelves when severe weather is expected.

The tax holiday is meant to do more than save residents money. Its real goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with severe weather.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, more than 450 fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries due to extreme weather were reported in 2012.

NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events. As part of the Weather-Ready Nation initiative, NOAA, along with partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wants to motivate people to take actions that will prepare them in the event of a weather disaster and to share their preparedness steps with others.

The initiative encourages people to be a force of nature by knowing risks, taking action and being an example to others in the community.

In addition to taking advantage of the tax holiday, the NOAA recommends keeping up with the latest in local weather by bookmarking weather.gov and following the National Weather Service on Facebook and Twitter. Read the State of the Climate reports to discover historical trends and be sure to have a family emergency plan that includes out-of-town, work and school contact information.

 

This weekend’s exempt items are:

AAA-cell batteries

AA-cell batteries

C-cell batteries

D-cell batteries

6-volt batteries

9-volt batteries

Cellular phone battery

Cellular phone charger

Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio, weatherband radio or NOAA weather radio

Portable self-powered light source, including battery-powered flashlights, lanterns or emergency glow sticks

Tarpaulin

Plastic sheeting

Plastic drop cloths

Other flexible, waterproof sheeting

Ground anchor system, such as bungee cords or rope, or tie-down kit

Duct tape

Plywood, window film or other materials specifically designed to protect window coverings

Non-electric food storage cooler or water storage container

Non-electric can opener

Artificial ice

Blue ice

Ice packs

Reusable ice

Self-contained first aid kit

Fire extinguisher

Smoke detector

Carbon monoxide detector

Gas or diesel fuel tank or container

Portable generator and power cords