As part as tornadoes go, Dallas County hasn’t been as hard hit as some of our neighbors. Despite being one of the state’s largest counties, we have experienced just five tornado deaths since records started being kept in 1950.

Four of those deaths are coming up on their 20th anniversary. On March 6, 1996, four people were killed and 40 injured after a EF-3 twister damaged dozen of homes between Marion Junction and Selma.

For four days this week, the Times-Journal is publishing information about severe weather. It’s a small thing we can do to educate the public during Alabama Severe Weather Awareness Week.

There’s also little things all of us can do to prepare in case severe weather strikes at home or work. Next weekend will be the fifth annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. From Friday through Sunday, items that could be used to protect life and property during severe weather will not be charged sales tax.

Some items exempt include batteries, cell phone battery or charger, radios, flashlight, plastic sheeting, rope, non-electric can-opener, artificial ice, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, gas or diesel fuel tank and any portable generator.