No Florida Tax-free hurricane supplies period for 2008

[hurricanetrack]

"not a priority"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/communit ... 9246.story

Unfortunate. But then again, people probably cannot afford hurricane supplies when it costs $140 a week to drive to work and back....

[tgenius]

I posted this yest in the Preparation forum

[hurricanetrack]

That's a good place for it. Perhaps we also need a "we have forgotten how bad it can be" forum. Or, "hurricane preparedness is not a priority until one is tearing thru our town". Geez, the economy goes south and some people think that this will keep the hurricanes away? Maybe it will...we are about to find out.

[MiamiensisWx]

That's a good place for it. Perhaps we also need a "we have forgotten how bad it can be" forum. Or, "hurricane preparedness is not a priority until one is tearing thru our town". Geez, the economy goes south and some people think that this will keep the hurricanes away? Maybe it will...we are about to find out.

No one has forgotten down here in south Florida...

The reversal of the tax break on supplies is slightly disappointing, but preparation is a frugal business. It's a year-round effort, as TC preparedness is simply an extension of general emergency readiness. I already own abundant water and canned soups, and we always stock up on the basics prior to each season. After a significant disaster, it all comes down to hardscrabble and frugal living and reliance on the necessities. In the end, there really is no excuse for lack of preparedness, since it's not confined to one portion of the year from June 1 through November 30. TC preparedness is a branch of severe wx and disaster (natural and man-induced) readiness.

[Jinkers]

I buy supplies all year, so come hurricane season, I don't have to buy a mass quanity of foods, everytime I go grocery shopping I pick up a few hurricane food supplies. I already have all the other stuff--food, batteries, & propane for my gas grill is the only things I update yearly

[gtalum]

I don't blame the state in this case. These tax-free weeks are luxuries, and the state simply can't afford it in this market. Here's to hoping things turn around in the next year.

[GeneratorPower]

Ok, so the state saves $14 million by not doing the weekend. I say that the tax-free holidays made people think about preparedness by making it the talk of the town, the word on the street.

So you want people to be prepared. How, as a government, do you do this? Put ads on TV? Send out mailers? How about give them a tax discount and let the TV stations and word-of-mouth give you FREE advertising.

$14 million to encourage people to think about preparedness, plus lots of actual spending ON PREPAREDNESS. What a deal. Looks like Florida will have to supply at full price all the generators, bottled watter, and supplies that people could have bought for themselves during the tax holiday. I guarantee you it will be more than $14 million.

[Ed Mahmoud]

If you live in Florida and don't know hurricane season is coming, than nothing the state is going to do is going to get you off stuck on stupid.

[feederband]

If you live in Florida and don't know hurricane season is coming, than nothing the state is going to do is going to get you off stuck on stupid.

I think you our right...I dont think I have ever said a hurricane coming? I didn't know we were in hurricane season... I think even newb's can associate Florida with canes..

[Decomdoug]

Having been born in FL., (1952) I have come to the realization that each June through November there is a very real possibility of some sort of tropical system crossing the state. Each spring we stock up on non-perishable foods and each fall through winter, (such as it is) we use the items up. It is a rite of spring if you will. It is a real hoot to watch the scramble every time there is a watch raised.

[loro-rojo]

To tell you the truth, I think that the average Floridian does not take advantage of the tax-free items for hurricane supplies. I also don't think that people will choose to not buy hurricane supplies before the season just because the tax free holiday is not being offered.

My point is that the persons who took advantage of the tax free holiday know enough about hurricanes, that they will buy their supplies tax-free or not. Those who didn't buy supplies then are not going to buy them now.

The people are not going to be less prepared just for the fact that these items will be taxed this year.

[somethingfunny]

I don't blame the state in this case. These tax-free weeks are luxuries, and the state simply can't afford it in this market. Here's to hoping things turn around in the next year.

I agree. Florida is facing a $4 billion budget shortfall this year from what I see on cable news...neither a tax-free preparation week or a television ad campaign or anything else would convince anybody dumb enough to not have already been preparing for every hurricane season after 2004.