Released by Governor Ron DeSantis’s Office …
Governor Ron DeSantis Urges Floridians to Prepare as Hurricane Season Begins
The Governor also announced the beginning of the Sales Tax Holiday for Hurricane Supplies
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) are urging Florida residents and visitors to take advantage of the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs May 31-June 6, in preparation for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season. During the seven-day sales tax holiday, critical supplies for hurricane preparedness are tax-free, including water, medicine, flashlights, batteries and generators. All Floridians are encouraged to have at least seven days of supplies to be prepared for the impact of any hurricane.
While on a business development mission to Israel before the start of Hurricane season, Governor DeSantis and FDEM Director Jared Moskowitz met with Israeli emergency management officials to discuss best practices and approaches to emergency services.
“After the devastation of Hurricane Michael and recent storms that have made landfall in Florida, my administration is leaving nothing to chance this hurricane season,” said Governor DeSantis. “This tax holiday is a perfect opportunity for Floridians to get essential supplies and make a plan for the very real possibility of storm impact. I urge all Floridians to get prepared as we officially enter hurricane season.”
“As Hurricane Season begins this weekend, I encourage all Florida residents and visitors to take advantage of the sales tax holiday that runs May 31-June 6 to stock up on critical supplies,” said FDEM Director Jared Moskowitz. “While in the past we’ve encouraged Floridians to have 3 days of supplies, we have found after recent events that everyone should have at least 7 days of food, water and medicine.”
During the past three years, four hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, including Hurricane Michael, the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. as a Category 5 since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1 and all Floridians and visitors are encouraged to have a plan. If you do not have a plan and need help making one, please visit FloridaDisaster.org/GetAPlan.
Following the impact of a hurricane, residents may lose access to basic services, such as power and water, and be subject to limited or no access to essentials like food, drinking water and medicine. With these situations in mind, all individuals and families are encouraged to stock up on essentials and build a disaster supply kit to last for a minimum of seven days. For more information about which supplies are included in the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, visit floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep/.
On May 15, Governor DeSantis signed CS/HB 7123: Taxation; officially approving the week-long Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. During this one-week sales tax holiday, Floridians are estimated to save $5.5 million on critical supplies. For more information on that bill signing, click HERE.