2 Florida Cities Make List Of Dirtiest Cities In America

Living in a land of palm trees and beautiful beaches is paradise to me, but 2 Florida cities have made a list of the dirtiest cities in America.

Living in Southwest Florida, when I look around, all I see is beauty. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, palm trees are swaying and the white sand with the beautiful blue water of the Gulf can't be beat. I think we all either moved to, or stayed in Florida, because it's truly paradise. But that can't be said for all cities around the country.

I grew up in the Chicago and that city, while I love it, isn't the cleanest. There's trash flying around, rats the size of dogs and a stench in the air that will literally make you gag. Same could be said for other cities like New York City, Philadelphia and downtown Las Vegas is getting gross too.

But in this study, being dirty isn't all about optics. It's more about the effect on the health of the residents that live there. Think the quality of the air, water and noise.

LawnStarter put together a list of the dirtiest cities in America. They looked at 150 of the largest cities across the country and factors like pollution, living conditions, infrastructure and resident satisfaction. They also looked at data from federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

2 Florida cities did make the list of the dirtiest in America, but they fell a little further down the list. The top 5 are:

In Florida, Hollywood came in at #18 and Fort Lauderdale at #20.

For the full list, click here

Hurricane season begins Saturday, June 1st. It is a phrase that can cause dread for some Southwest Floridians. Many are still trying to get back on their feet from Hurricane Ian, two seasons ago. To help you get prepared, these hurricane supplies are tax free in Florida beginning this weekend.

State lawmakers passed two Disaster Preparedness sales tax holidays giving Floridians a break when stocking up on some basic supplies. The list of items that are about to be tax free is pretty extensive and may include things you don't typically think about when it comes to hurricane supplies.

I love that lawmakers not only consider things you might need for your personal safety during and immediately following a storm like flashlights and tarps. In addition, they consider things you might need if you are forced to evacuate with a beloved pet.

You can't exactly go on a crazy shopping spree as there are limits on spending in each category. However, you CAN be strategic and shop a little each day to get the maximum in sales tax savings.

If you have questions about what is exempt or if for some reason a store did not honor a tax-free purchase, click here to get more info.

In addition, a second, similar tax-free holiday for hurricane supplies happens later in the season, August 24th, just before activity tends to ramp up. it runs through September 6th.

In the meantime, here are a few items to stock up on beginning Saturday, June 1st. Make your list and get your disaster kit ready. Officials are predicting the 2024 season is going to be an active and strong one so be prepared and have a plan, just in case.

Generators can be life savers, literally, in the days and weeks following a major storm. They help preserve food if the power goes out, help supply oxygen and other vital services. The sales tax is waved on generators costing up to $3000. Over that, you'll need to pay.

This covers lighting as far as flashlights, lanterns and candles. These light sources can be powered by solar, by battery or gas and must be $40 and under to qualify.

When power goes out, batteries are essential for flashlights, radios and more. The sales tax is waved on AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6- volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less. It's a good time to grab a power pack or power bank at $60 or less.

Radios were crucial for communication and information following Hurricane Ian. Tax is waved on portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios. This does not mean you get to buy a new sound system tax free. Limits are $50 or less.

One of the things we learned from Hurricane Ian is the need for a few basic supplies such as bleach and laundry detergents. Also included in this section are items such as paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, soap, disinfectant, sanitizer, and sunscreen.

Tarps and similar waterproof sheeting is included. The price cap for these items is $100. In addition, sales tax is waved on items typically sold with tarps such as ground anchor or tie-down kits costing $100 or less.

This includes coolers that are $60 and under as well as those reusable ice packs that come in at $20 or less. Experts advise keeping them on hand and full of ice when a storm is approaching.

This includes items you might need when evacuating with a pet. The list includes such thing as portable kennels or pet carries ($100 or less), pet beds ($40 or less), pet medications ($100 or less). In addition, you'll be able to purchase items such as leashes, collars, waste disposal bags, food and more, all with price caps.

This list includes items such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors all costing $70 or less. House fires a are common after the power gets reconnected.