From The Publisher

Spring has sprung and Tornado season is upon us.

This is not an April fool’s day joke.

Tornados are no laughing matter in North Alabama.

My family learned quickly since moving to this community to take every warning seriously. We understand that many of our neighbors have been impacted by severe storms.

Our Staff Writer, Nick Sellers, recently reported, “The City of Madison is partnering with the City of Huntsville, Madison County and Redstone Arsenal to upgrade the emergency warning sirens maintained by the Huntsville – Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).”

These sirens are meant to alert our citizens outside their homes, businesses, and schools of potential danger.

I support these siren improvements and I also recognize the importance of weather radios and local broadcasting efforts to help pinpoint the immediate threat.

My wife has two weather radio apps on her smart phone and we have used them both during severe weather warnings.

For those of us who are new to Madison the following are a few steps offered by the Madison County EMA to prepare for Tornados:

• Monitor the situation by tuning your radio or TV set to one of the local stations and monitor a weather radio.
• Have a battery powered light and radio ready and keep family members within earshot. Keep on hand emergency supplies: a three-day supply of food, water, and other necessities. Keep your car keys on you; should a tornado strike, your car may still be operable but your keys would be lost in the rubble.
• Be prepared to take cover immediately should a warning be issued.
• Get out of cars and mobile homes; take cover in a ditch if there is no place or no time to go elsewhere.

For additional information on prepping for severe weather conditions in our area please visit madisoncountyema.com.

We cannot control our weather, but we can plan for our family’s safety.