The exemption on sales taxes for select items, such as batteries, tarps, weather radios and portable generators, begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends Sunday at midnight.

About 250 counties and municipalities around the state, including Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa and Northport, have joined in the tax holiday. For consumers in Tuscaloosa and Northport, that will mean savings of 9 percent (4 percent state, 2 percent in the two cities and 3 percent county) on the exempted merchandise.

“I am hopeful that this sales tax holiday will encourage families to think about their severe weather plans and make sure they have the items they need to weather any storm,” said state Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa.