NOVEC says prepare for storms during Virginia’s 2015 sales tax holiday

Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, customerservice@novec.com

Gov. McAuliffe recognizes May 25-31 as Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week

MANASSAS, Va. —Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative encourages consumers to prepare for hurricanes and other storms by purchasing needed supplies and equipment during Virginia's sale tax holiday for hurricane and emergency preparedness, May 25-31, 2015. To emphasize the importance of preparing for hurricane season, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has recognized the week as Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week.

"It's critical that every Virginian take hurricane season seriously and understand how they could be affected by flooding, high winds and tornadoes during this time of year," said State Coordinator Dr. Jeff Stern.

Qualifying emergency products that cost $60 or less each include:

• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice
  
• Batteries for flashlights, radios, and cellphones
  
• Bottled water
  
• Bungee cords, rope
  
• Carbon dioxide detectors
  
• Cellphones chargers
  
• Duct tape
  
• Fire extinguishers
  
• First aid kits
  
• Flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, and glow sticks
  
• Gas or diesel fuel containers
  
• Ice packs for coolers
  
• Manual can openers
  
• NOAA weather radios, two-way radios or other battery-powered radios, self-powered radios
  
• Non-electric food storage coolers
  
• Smoke detectors
  
• Water storage containers
  
• Waterproof sheeting 

Qualifying emergency products that cost $1,000 or less each:

• Portable generators and generator power cords
  
• Inverters and inverter power cables
  

Chainsaws and accessories

Chainsaws must have a selling price of $350 or less, and accessories must have a sales price of $60 or less. Chainsaw accessories are: 

• Chains
  
• Chainsaw bar and nose lubricants
  
• Two-cycle motor oil
  
• Chain sharpeners and files
  
• Bars
  
• Wrenches
  
• Carrying cases and scabbards
  
• Safety apparel, including chaps, gloves, hearing protectors, helmets, and protective glasses
  
• Repair parts
  

The Virginia Department of Taxation's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines and Rules are available on the www.tax.virginia.gov website. For additional information on hurricane preparation, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at www.vaemergency.gov.

NOVEC advises customers to post NOVEC's telephone number, 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500, in an easy-to-find place and to associate up to two current phone numbers with their accounts to expedite outage reporting and restoration.To report a new or changed number, a customer can call NOVEC, push or say "2," select option "3," and follow directions. The customer will need his or her account number.