Disaster preparation sales tax holiday begins Friday, May 29

Palm Coast Observer
News

The official start of hurricane season will be here rapidly, and Flagler County officials are urging residents to prepare early by shopping locally and taking advantage of the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday.

Emergency Management Director to address County Commission on upcoming hurricane season

Hurricane season begins Monday, June 1, and Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord will share with the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting the predictions of the National Hurricane Center, and provide an update of countywide preparations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a challenging year for Emergency Management on all fronts,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “As seriously as we take our work under ‘normal’ circumstances, we have increased our efforts as we enter hurricane season because of the unique challenges posed by COVID-19.”

Lord, his staff, and many governmental and non-profit partners have been hashing out preliminary details about how shelters may operate – if they become necessary.

“There are potential challenges every hurricane season, of course,” Lord said. “They are amplified this year, but staff and I are doing what we can to be as ready as possible.”

The Board of County Commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday and can be viewed via livestreaming on YouTube or on Spectrum cable television station channel 492.

Interested members of the public will have the following options to submit comments for the record regarding any matter on the agenda or for matters not on the agenda.

Option I: Send comments before and during the meeting by email to [email protected] and to the reasonable extent possible they will be read in the record. (450 word limit and assuming emails are received timely).
Option II: Call 386-517-2019 before or during the meeting to provide comments (not to exceed 3 minutes). Comments will be summarized and read into the record.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation designating a 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from Friday, May 29 through Thursday, June 4 — a full week.

During this sales tax holiday, items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax.

“We ask residents to have a number of emergency supplies ready, and this is the perfect time to take a look at what you have and replenish or replace these items,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “Remember to test things like flashlights and replace outdated batteries.”

As with food, water and medications, officials recommend having seven days’ worth of supplies.

The qualifying list of items includes the following:

reusable ice packs
flashlights, lanterns and candles
fuel and kerosene containers
batteries (excluding automobile and boat)
coolers and ice chests
tarps
ground anchor systems
tie-downs, bungee cords
two-way and weather band radios that are powered by battery, solar or hand-crank
portable generators selling for less than $750 to be used for providing light, communications or to preserve food in the event of a power outage

“Another thing we would ask residents is to do now is to take a moment to sign up for special alert notifications at www.flaglercounty.org/alertflagler,” Lord said. “If you know someone with special needs – someone who requires electricity, refrigeration for medication, or oxygen – encourage them or register for evacuation assistance at www.flaglercounty.org/special_needs.”

Also remember to shop locally.

“Certainly we hope to be spared this year, but it is a good time to remind our residents to consider making their purchases within Flagler County,” said Economic Opportunity Manager Kat Friel. “Our businesses have been hit so hard already this year by COVID-19. We are just starting to regain strength. The more we continue to boost our businesses, the quicker they will rebound which will make our recovery less painful.”