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Beginning on Feb. 23, Alabamians can buy supplies and equipment to prepare for the severe weather season without paying the state’s four% sales tax through Feb. 25.

Demopolis has participated in the sales tax holiday since 2017, Linden has participated since 2021 and Thomaston has participated since 2020. This is Alabama’s 13th severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday.

The holiday takes place on the last full weekend of February, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and ending at midnight on Sunday. A county or municipality, by resolution or ordinance adopted at least 30 days prior to the last full weekend of February, may provide for the exemption of covered items from county or municipal sales or use taxes during the same time period, under the same terms, conditions, and definitions as provided for the state sales tax holiday.

During the tax holiday, shoppers can save up to ten% on exempt items in some areas of the state. The tax exempt items priced at $60 or less include flashlights and lanterns, battery powered or hand crank radios, batteries, first-aid kits, cell phone chargers, two-way radios, manual can openers, tarps and plastic sheeting, duct tape, fire extinguishers, and tie-down kits, bungee cords or ropes.

Other exempt items include coolers, ice packs, plywood, window film, and smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Generators costing $1,000 or less also can be purchased free of the state’s four-percent sales tax during the three-day tax holiday.

Local hardware stores or businesses can be a source of information on emergency supplies.