From batteries to coolers to pet food and portable generators, there are many items you can purchase tax-free in Florida during Florida’s second sales tax-free disaster preparedness holiday this year.

While you’ll want to make sure you’re stocked up on supplies for the final three months of the 2024 hurricane season, this sales tax holiday – which lasts through Friday, September 6 – offers a long list of items you can use in an emergency And all year round.

READ: Full list of VAT exempt items

The experts at Consumer Reports recommend starting now to consider certain key items so you’re prepared if a hurricane, tornado or other severe weather hits our area. Plus, you can save on many of these items during the sales tax-free period.

Prepare for an evacuation

Pack an emergency bag in case you need to evacuate. Keep it near an exit door or in your car. In it you should have:

• Change of clothes

• Toiletries

• Medicines

• Water

• Durable foods

• Phone charger

• flashlight

• First aid kit

• Battery powered radio

• Copies of your ID and personal documents

• Cash in small bills

If you have pets, make sure you have a plan for them as well. You should include:

• Pet food

• Vaccination certificate

• Medicines for pets

If you are unsure of your evacuation zone or have questions about whether you should leave your home or stay home during a storm, visit FloridaDisasters.org.

Be prepared to stay at home

If a storm hits, expect to be without power at home. Stock up on spare water containers and nonperishable food.

If you don’t have a portable generator, Consumer Reports says you should consider purchasing one and getting it up and running right away.

“The best time to buy a generator is well before a storm. That’s when you’ll have the best selection. And you’ll have time to get familiar with it and set it up properly,” explains Paul Hope of Consumer Reports.

You would also have time to have an electrician perform an interlock or transfer switch installation so that the generator can actually power everything under your roof and not just a handful of appliances.

The Generac XT8500EFI, which costs between $900 and $1,200, performs well in Consumer Reports’ tests, earning top marks among conventional portable generators. Don’t forget: If you buy a portable generator that costs less than $3,000 between now and September 6, you won’t have to pay sales tax.

Finally, create a communication plan. Make sure your cell phone is set up for wireless emergency alerts, which are free notifications sent to mobile devices by government agencies.

Instead of trying to text a lot of people in your family, choose a single contact outside your emergency area who can pass on important information.

For more information on planning for a weather emergency and getting the best gear to help you and your family before, during, and after a storm, check out Consumer Reports’ Storm and Emergency Preparedness Guide.