The hurricane season won’t officially begin for a few more days, but with all the tragic events still unfolding in Texas and Oklahoma due to flooding and violent storms, a number of state agencies are emphasizing that Virginians should prepare now. That means stocking up on supplies AND making sure families have the right insurance coverage during this Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week.
Many Virginians are not aware that we're right in the middle of a state tax holiday where emergency supplies such as batteries, flashlights, and bottled water are sales-tax free.
"And generators are part of the sales tax holiday--- a thousand-dollars or less, so if you spend more than a thousand-dollars you won't get the benefit of the sales tax reduction.'
That's the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's Dawn Eischen. She says Virginians should check the agency’s website to not only see what's exempt through Sunday, but also to get an idea of the emergency supplies you should have all year. She also says this is a good time to talk with your insurance agent about the extent of your coverage.
"Check out the floodsmart.gov webpage and see if you're in a flood prone area. Also, there's something called storm surge. Storm surge is different and that occurs during a hurricane."
Eischen adds that family members should develop an emergency plan to use if they get separated and lose contact with loved ones. There's also a helpful and free “Ready Virginia app” for smartphones on the VDEM website.
Among other benefits, the “Ready Virginia app” has local weather warnings from the National Weather Service, an interactive map, and a checklist for emergency supplies. It can also send a message to designated loved ones during a disaster that you're safe.
