Most people think of tornado season as the warmer months of the year when the weather is unpredictable and the temperature rises and drops rapidly. While spring and fall is the traditional tornado season,  due to Alabama’s unseasonably warm weather year round, the state is known to have a second tornado season that occurs late fall and early winter. Over the past 70 years, Alabama has had 150 instances of tornadoes the week of Thanksgiving.

If severe weather develops in your area this fall, the first thing you need to do is seek shelter inside, as close to the middle of the building as possible. Once you are securely inside, get down, as low to the ground as you can get, and if possible, underground in a basement or storm cellar. Now that you are inside, in the center of the building and low to the ground, you need to cover up. Flying debris can be very dangerous, so cover yourself with pillows, blankets, coats, helmets or other protective items to shield yourself. Your goal should be to put as many barriers between you and the storm outside, as you can.

As mentioned, underground shelter is not available to all. If this is the case at your house, an area in your home that is central in location, on the first floor and has no windows will be the safest area for you and your family to take shelter during a tornado warning. The following rooms may be that place at your home:

• A bathroom
• A closet
• A hallway
• Under the stairs

Most importantly, always be prepared with a plan in place before a storm approaches.. In North Alabama, severe weather is more likely to occur at night. We suggest you invest in a weather radio that will alert you to severe weather in real time. When you know something is coming, you will be able to react quickly to the situation, which could save you and your family.

If you need emergency assistance during severe weather, Huntsville-Madison County 9-1-1 is here to serve you.