By Morgan Montalvo
WOAI News
The State of Texas is making its easier for people to prepare for the worst at a savings.
2017's Texas Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday is sponsored by the State Comptroller's Office and runs from Saturday through Monday.
Frank Dickey, an instructor with FEMA's Community Emergency Response Teams, also known as CERT, recommends at a minimum keeping on hand multiple light-emitting diode, or LED, flashlights with the right size batteries - both rechargeable and regular types.
"Now, with LEDs being very much perfected, the quality of light is good and the price is actually now where everyone can really afford them," says Dickey, who conducts CERT classes across South Texas.
"The saying that we have," Dickey says," is 'one is none, and two is one.' "
He says a portable weather radio is another essential, as are a home fire extinguisher, a well-stocked first aid kit, and tarps and plastic sheeting, the latter indispensable when roofs and windows are damaged by storms, high winds or a tornado.
Details on the Texas 2017 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday and and a list of qualifying items can be found at:Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. Information on general emergency preparedness is available at: https://www.bexar.org/672/Office-of-Emergency-Management .
IMAGE' TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE