Severe Weather Actions to Take

The actions you take prior to severe weather can save your life during severe weather. With all of West Alabama under a Tornado Watch until 8:00pm and a rare HIGH (5 in 5) RISK for severe weather, including violent, long-track tornadoes this afternoon and evening, everyone needs to make sure they are prepared.

• Make sure you have a way to receive watches and warnings (smartphone WEA alerts, NOAA Weather radio, broadcast media, local government free call down alerts). Several West Alabama counties have free subscriber call down alert systems available:
  • BIBB ALERT in Bibb County. Click HERE TO subscribe.
  • Fayette County, My Free Alerts. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Greene County, No call down system.
  • Hale County Everbridge: Go to app store to download Public Safety by Everbridge
  • Lamar County hyper-reach. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Marengo ALERT in Marengo County. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Perry County Emergency Alert. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Pickens County CODE RED. Click HERE to Subscribe.
  • Sumter County Saf-T-Net. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Tuscaloosa County TuscALERT. Click HERE to subscribe.
  • Walker County CODE RED. Click HERE to subscribe.
• Stay tuned to Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Radion Stations for the latest information, watches and warnings on Operation Storm Watch. (105.1 FM, 100.1 FM, 92.9 FM, 93.3 FM, 790 AM, 95.3 FM, 101.7 FM, 100.9 FM, 1230 AM)
• Make sure all devices are charged and ready should power be lost.
• Know where you are located. Surveys have shown many people cannot identify their location on a map. It is critical to understand your location so you can determine if you are located inside a severe weather polygon. Warnings are no longer issued for entire counties, only for areas that could directly be impacted.
• Understand the difference between a watch and a warning. Watches are typically issued several hours prior to the expected onset of severe weather to allow you time to prepare or get to a safe place. A warning means severe weather (thunderstorm or tornado) has been spotted by trained spotters or weather radar and you should seek immediate safety.
• Realize that not all severe thunderstorms spawn tornadoes but ALL tornadoes are spawned by severe thunderstorms, sometimes with little to no notice. Take Severe Thunderstorm Warnings seriously.
• When a tornado warning is issued go to your safe place, have helmets for everyone, including adults. Use a car seat for infants.
• If you live in a mobile home, know the location of the nearest shelter, or business open 24/7 that can serve as a shelter. Have transportation arranged so you can get there quickly. You cannot stay in a mobile home if you are in a tornado warning polygon.
• If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building or at last resort a ditch.
• Do NOT drive during a tornado warning.
• Turn Around, Don't Drown: Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms in Mississippi and may lead to localized flooding in West Alabama. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
• Beware Lightning: Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.

Preparedness Links:

Be-Ready,gov

Ready Alabama

National Weather Service Birmingham

The National Weather Service provides this video reminding you what actions to take when a Tornado Warning is issued.

The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore describes in this video what each stage of the Fujita Scale describing tornado damage means.

Take today and tonight's threat seriously. Long-track strong to violent tornadoes, hail up to 2 inches in diameter, straight-line winds in excess of 70 mph and torrential rainfall are all possible.  Between 2-6 inches of rain is forecast north of I-20 with some spots potentially receiving higher amounts.  A Flood Watch is in effect near and north if I-59 until 1 am.

Take precautions NOW to be prepared.