This weekend, shoppers will have the opportunity to stock up on emergency preparedness items without having to pay the state’s sales tax.

The tax-free weekend kicked off on Friday and runs throughout the weekend, ending at midnight Sunday.

“It’s an opportunity for folks to stock up on batteries, weather radios, flashlights and items like that,” said Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Smedley. “It also encourages them to shop local.”

The tax-free holiday covers a variety of emergency items under $60, as well as generators under $1,000.

Though the tax-free holiday only applies to the state tax, some local governments have signed on to give shoppers even greater savings – Dallas County is among them, as are the cities of Orrville and Selma.

Items that can be purchased without having to pay taxes include batteries, phone chargers, weather radios, flashlights, duct tape, coolers, ice packs, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fuel containers and more.