Are you prepared for hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30)?

Be sure to sign up for the City of Gainesville’s mass notification system, alertGNV to ensure that you receive important messages from the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, the State of Florida and the National Weather Service at alertGNV.org.

Hurricane season is approaching, and Alachua County is accepting applications for its Special Needs Registry. The Special Need Registry allows residents who are unable to shelter in place during emergencies, including hurricanes, to reserve shelter space at a local facility that is prepared with appropriate accommodations. For more information, visit the Special Needs Registry Program webpage or contact Alachua County Emergency Management at 352-264-6540 or acem@alachuacounty.us.

Hurricane season is almost here; are you prepared? For a limited time, hurricane preparation items are exempt from a sales tax. Qualifying items include flashlights, gas containers, coolers and even portable generators. The sales tax holiday is Saturday, May 28 through Friday, June 10. Cost limits are set on specific items. For a complete list of exempt items, visit www.FloridaRevenue.com/DisasterPrep.