Hurricane season starts June 1 and the Commonwealth of Virginia is helping residents get ready by offering a tax-free shopping week set for May 25-31.

No sales tax will be charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses and to fill emergency supply kits. Among items exempt from sales tax include: batteries, flashlights and lanterns, bottled waters, battery-powered and hand-crank radios, first-aid kids, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, tarps, duct tape, water storage containers, generators and more.

“Last year proved that Virginia is not immune from hurricanes and tropical systems,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Five Virginians died as a result of Hurricane Irene in late August, which caused the second-highest number of power outages in Virginia history. Then we were hit by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in September that took the lives of five citizens and displaced hundreds more. Nearly the entire state was affected to some extent, and we were left with millions of dollars in property damage. Everyone should take steps to prepare for this hurricane season.”

For more information on the sales tax holiday and a complete list of eligible items, visit http://tinyurl.com/6xec7h Addi.tional information about preparing for hurricane and flooding season is available at http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov