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2021 Hurricane Season Begins

Leon County Emergency Management Mascot stands behind a table laden with hurricane preparedness items
Blaise Gainey
/
WFSU-FM
2021 Hurricane Season Begins

June 1 marks the start of Hurricane Season. The National Hurricane Center expects activity to be above average. They are predicting 13 to 20 named storms, with 3 to 5 of them reaching Category 3 or higher. Last year set a record for 30 named storms.

Florida emergency responders are hoping to extend a two-year streak of avoiding storms this hurricane season. The last to make landfall was Hurricane Michael in 2018, but Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey says everyone should still be prepared.

"Make a plan, build a kit, stay informed. These three simple steps can help you and your family and friends be hurricane-ready," Dailey said.

A few items to make sure to have in your supply kit include flashlights, radios and batteries. This week, those items and more are all tax-free until June 6, as part of the state’s 10-day sales tax holiday. Florida Retail Federation Spokesperson Amanda Beavis says Floridians can look forward to big savings.

"During 2020 the disaster preparedness holiday, which was just seven days, was estimated to save Floridians $5.6 million in taxes on hurricane supplies. This year the tax-free holiday is even longer. From now to June 6 Floridians can stock up. So, we expect there’s going to be even more savings while they're out there shopping and prepping for hurricane season.

Items that are tax-free include batteries, tarps that are $100 or less, portable chargers that are under $60, and more. To find a list of all the items visit FloridaRevenue.com. The sales tax holiday ends June 6.

Blaise Gainey is a State Government Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.