Severe Weather Awareness Week - Be Prepared

To wrap up our Severe Weather Awareness week…We want to remind you of all the ways you can stay on top of the weather.

In addition to our regular broadcasts, you can watch the WAFF48 Storm Team streaming on your mobile device any time severe weather threatens the area. WAFF48 also offers many ways to track the weather with the 48 Storm Team. You can download our weather app for the latest watches, warnings, and interactive radar. If you don't have a smart phone, you can sign up for breaking news and weather text alerts. For weather forecasts sent straight to your inbox, sign up for WAFF 48 News email alerts and updates, too. Follow WAFF48 news and the 48 Storm Team on Twitter and Like Us on Facebook for constant updates on weather in your neighborhood, closings, road conditions, and other breaking news. You can also help out during severe weather by safely sharing photos with us and sending them to pix@waff.com.

In conjunction with severe weather awareness week, Alabama's second severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday begins at midnight Friday, February 22nd and ends at midnight, Sunday, Februrary 24th. Alabama shoppers can stock up *tax free* on common supplies costing less than $60 that every home and business needs to prepare for a natural disaster or even a general emergency. Generators costing $1,000 or less also can be purchased free of the state's four-percent sales tax during the three-day tax holiday.

Common supplies included in the tax free weekend include:

AAA-cell
batteries
AA-cell batteries
C-cell batteries
D-cell batteries
6-volt batteries
9-volt batteries
Cellular phone battery
Cellular phone charger
Portable self-powered or battery-powered radio, two-way radio, weatherband radio or NOAA
weather radio
Portable self-powered light source, including battery powered flashlights, lanterns, or
emergency glow sticks
Tarpaulin
Plastic sheeting
Plastic drop cloths
Other flexible, waterproof sheeting
Ground anchor system, such as bungee cords or rope, or tie-down kit
Duct tape
Plywood, window film or other materials specifically designed to protect window coverings
Non-electric food storage cooler or water storage container
Non-electric can opener
Artificial ice
Blue ice
Ice packs
Reusable ice
Self-contained first aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Smoke detector
Carbon monoxide detector
Gas or Diesel fuel tank or container