CLAY COUNTY – With a system already brewing in the Atlantic Oceans and the official start of hurricane season approaching next week, residents can save money on supplies by taking advantage of the Florida Disaster Sales Tax Holiday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed a bill that created a sales tax holiday from May 31 to June 6 for hurricane supplies.

Locally, residents now should be prepared to survive without electricity and other essentials for at least five days, said interim Clay County Emergency Management Director Glenn East.

“We now say up to five days instead of three,” East said. “And now is the time to do it instead of waiting.”

East said it’s important to be prepared in advance since supplies will be limited – and more valuable – when a storm is approaching.

“Anything to help you maintain, anything you’d need if you were without power for five days,” he said. “Solar battery chargers, generators, things to cover your windows and water are really necessary.

Tax-free items include: less than $10 – reusable ice packs; less than $20 – portable self-powered light source, flashlights, lanterns and candles; less than $25 – gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers; less than $30 – batteries (excluding automobile and marine batteries), coolers, ice chests and non-electrical food storage; $50 or less – tarps, visqueen barriers, plastic sheeting and drop clothes, flexible waterproof sheeting, ground anchors, tie-down kits, bungee cords, ratchet straps, radios, and two-way weather band; and, $750 or less – portable generators to provide light, communications and food storage.

Unflavored and uncarbonated bottled water, canned food, including meats, vegetables, fruit, peanut butter, and other nonperishable items, first aid kits, prescription and non-prescription medications, baby food and formula always are exempt.

East also emphasized the need to register now for ALERT Clay County. The system can send an emergency alert to a home, business or cell phone or email address.

“We don’t have the neighborhood warning systems like they do up north,” East said. “There’s nothing to wake you up in the middle of the night if a bad storm or a tornado is coming. Being informed is hugely valuable.”

To sign up for ALERT Clay County, visit ALERT.claycountygov.com or call (904) 284-7703 for more information.

DeSantis also approved a sales tax holiday on school supplies like clothes, notebooks, shoes and backpacks from Aug. 2 to Aug. 6.