From May 25th until May 31st 2009, several items will be exempt from sales tax throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

These items include those considered "hurricane preparedness items" such as:  batteries, smoke detectors and first aid kits.

Here is the complete list:

• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables
• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice
• Batteries (excluding automobile or boat batteries)
o AAA, AA, C and D size
o 6- or 9-volt
o Cell phone batteries
• Any battery-powered light sources ,including
flashlights, lanterns and glow sticks -- no candles
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths and
other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Bungee cords and rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Empty gas, propane or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers, including buckets, barrels,
canteen, cans, cooler
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Bottled water, any size and number of bottles,
including flavored, carbonated and vitamin water
• Manual can openers
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radios (including
radios with an electrical power option)
• Two-way radios
• Weather band radios and NOAA Weather Radios
• Storm shutter devices that are made, rated and
marketed specifically for the prevention of storm
damage to windows -- no plywood
• Cell phone chargers
• First aid kits

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

For more information on the Virginia Department of Taxation Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, please visit their site here.