Natural disasters are becoming more and more of a commonplace occurrence in Houston. And if you didn’t have a disaster-preparedness kit before last week’s winter storm, we highly advise you to put one together before hurricane season starts on June 1.

Feeling anxious? Worried about costs? No worries, you can get prepared during the Texas 2021 Sales Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday, which will give you access to essential prep items, tax-free.  

These include portable generators, hurricane shutters, coolers, fuel containers, tarps, flashlights, batteries, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Camping equipment, like tents and stoves, plus PPE, toilet paper, and chainsaws, is not a part of the tax-free benefits, but you might consider throwing them into your kit anyways. For a list of what else to include, check out this page from FEMA.

If you’re hoping to get everything together now, however, you’re going to have to wait—this year the emergency prep tax holiday doesn’t begin until Saturday, April 24, at 12:01 a.m. You’ll then get three days to procure everything you need before the holiday ends at midnight on Monday, April 26.

Online purchases and telephone orders are also included in the tax exemption holiday this year to encourage people to maintain social distancing while still rounding up all of the necessary supplies. And pro-tip: when making your online purchases, double-check that your order will show up as being placed during the holiday exemption period to guarantee your tax-free benefits. 

For further information on the tax holiday, and specific items and their qualifications to be considered tax free click here.