Letter from LA

Why worry about the Rapture? The Zombie Apocalypse is on my mind

The CDC believes if you're ready for a Zombie Apocalypse, you're ready for anyemergency
Some reading material to take with you
Avoid men with vacant stares

For the past couple of months I’ve been laid up from leg surgery, so I’ve had ample time to ponder Life’s big questions like:

When will everything go horribly wrong?

The cable news channels hold the answer:

Soon. And not in a land far far away. Here. In our own backyards.

Images of last month’s deadly tornados in the South were heartbreaking. Hurricane season is just around the corner. And it seems like every other day, a seismologist is on air predicting the massive earthquake that’s sure to hit my city: Los Angeles.

More than once I've thought to myself: I can’t walk or drive. If there’s a natural disaster, I’m getting left behind! These moments remind me to be extra nice to my husband.

I raised my concerns over dinner last week. My girlfriend Bridget has mod bangs and reads the New Yorker cover to cover. She’s wise beyond her years and still manages to smile often. She stated calmly, “Don’t worry. No one's leaving you. If an earthquake hits L.A., the freeways’ll be gridlocked.”

She added, nodding her head reassuringly, “We’ll all be stuck here.” That made me feel a little better. I started thinking about the provisions I have at home: a few cans of garbanzo beans, organic dog food, the water left in our Brita pitcher.

Bridget leaned over her bowl of steaming Pho soup and whispered, “But, Ellie, what should really concern you is…the Zombie Apocalypse.”

Apparently, the Zombie Apocalypse hasn’t only been on Bridget’s mind. This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse campaign to raise awareness for emergency preparation. The blog was so popular, the site crashed.

(And I'm sure you already have plans for the weekend, but don't forget the Rapture is Saturday. From what I gather, God will scoop up all the good Christians, and all the sinners left on Earth will be in major trouble. An Emergency Preparedness kit couldn't hurt.)

It was high time I stopped procrastinating. Where’s the best place to stock up? Costco. The membership warehouse sells everything, including caskets, so I wasn’t surprised to see they offer a readymade Emergency Preparedness kit online. It includes everything: finger splints…a 50-foot rope…a coloring book with crayons.

What? I couldn’t order a disaster kit with crayons. That’s so sad. Why do bad things happen to kids? I crutched away from my laptop and stress-snacked on a bag of almonds (a protein source I will wish I had saved if an earthquake hits before our next trip to the grocery store).

So, I compiled a kit on my own, sans crayons. It's fairly simple to put one together, but it is tedious. I found a detailed list online and ordered most of the Boy Scout stuff a-la-carte on Amazon. I’ll be thankful if it all goes unused. But, it’s reassuring to know it’s coming in the mail. I just hope it arrives in time. Now, it's your turn. Get it done!

A list for your emergency kit:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

The CDC Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalpyse blog post is also helpful. And if you still want to procrastinate from making your kit, take a look at my blog (www.ellieinla.com).

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always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies

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Emergency supplies like first aid kits that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas

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always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies