It’s been a while, but do you remember a storm named Ivan?

How about a visitor named Opal who left her mark?

In the days and weeks that followed, remember what you needed? Perhaps a generator to run your coffee pot, batteries for flashlights, or tarps to cover a damaged roof.

Yes, it’s been a while, and some say we are due. This weekend is a good time to bank against the inevitability that we will face the aftermath of a storm again one day, by taking advantage of Alabama’s state sales tax holiday for severe weather preparedness items.

While we are more familiar with hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, the sales tax holiday actually is a direct result of the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak. Last year, many Alabamians also got a taste of severe winter weather.

As part of the holiday, items related to severe weather preparedness will be exempted from state sales and use taxes. In Covington County, county and municipal sales taxes also will be exempted.

Items covered by the sales tax holiday include:

• Several types of batteries, including cell phone batteries and chargers

• Battery-powered radios

• NOAA weather radios

• Flashlights, lanterns, and emergency glow sticks

• First aid kits

• Portable generators

• Many other storm-related items.

We encourage readers to take stock of their storm supplies and take advantage of this opportunity.