Hurricane season has officially begun for Floridians and what better way to welcome to the rain and winds than with a tax-free hurricane supply weekend.
From Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4 sales tax will be exempt from items such as flash lights, batteries, coolers, radios and generators.
The news comes after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast announced it expects 11 to 17 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes this season.
Acting NOAA Administrator Ben Friedman told the Associated Press that atmospheric conditions that are known for suppressing storm development could be weak or non-existent over the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea this year.
While the storm season truly started today, a rare tropical storm formed last month over the open ocean.
National Weather Service Deputy Director Mary Erickson told the Associated Press that new, high-resolution hurricane model upgrades will provide “improved” guidance through this year’s storm season. Still experts suggest that a hurricane survival kit should be put together to last up to 72 hours.
Friedman also commented to the Associated Press that a new weather satellite will help show developing storms in better detail than before.
Last year Florida was hit by Hurricane Matthew, which killed at least 12 people and caused $1 billion in damages.