By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Severe weather season is right around the corner and the Alabama Department of Revenue is having its seventh annual severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday Feb. 23-25.

“A provision in the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax holiday law allows counties and municipalities to join the state by removing their own local sales and use taxes from the same items during the same weekend,” according to a press release from the department.

Selma and Dallas County are amongst the list of cities and counties participating in the sales tax holiday.

Toya Stiles, Emergency Management Agency director for Dallas County, said it is important for people to be prepared for severe weather.

“I think it’s important for people to have things that they need in order to be prepared for severe weather,” she said.

“I encourage people in the community to take advantage of this because it’s a great way of saving them money for things that could possibly save their life.”

Stiles said a weather radio is one of the most important items to have for severe weather situations and not to rely solely on sirens.

“We encourage people to get the NOAA weather radio because if a tornado is in the path of coming towards Dallas County, the weather radio will go off and that way they will be notified that a tornado is coming to the area,” Stiles said.

Stiles said there are five storm shelters throughout the Dallas County area. They are located in the following areas: Tipton, Burnsville, Orrville, Southside, Plantersville and Valley Grande.

The city of Selma’s community storm shelter is located at 1609 J.L. Chestnut Boulevard.

Stiles also said that proper planning is one of the most important things to ensure the survival of you and your family during a storm.

“I would advise people in the community to always have a safety plan in place whether it’s at your home, business or school,” she said.

“Always try to do a drill where you are practicing that safety plan to make sure that you know if a tornado is coming your restroom is the place that the entire family is going.”

For more information about Alabama’s annual Sales Tax Holiday for Severe Weather Preparedness visit https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/sales-tax-holidays/