Storm alerts are imperative, especially when bad weather comes at night

By WVUA 23 News Student Reporter Gracie Fusco

Severe weather and tornadoes can be deadly any time of day, but meteorologists are especially concerned when storms come through in the middle of the night.

“We have many tornado events that happen during the night when people are asleep, so it makes it harder to reach people,” said WVUA 23 News Chief Meteorologist Richard Scott.

The Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency helps ensure residents are prepared for potential severe weather and is among the first on the scene after disasters strike.

“My worry overnight is when people are asleep,” said Tuscaloosa County EMA Director Nick Lolley. “If people shut their notifications off, they won’t hear the alerts.”

Alerts can come from several sources, whether it be a weather radio, a text alert system or a phone app, but don’t rely on neighborhood sirens, Lolley said.

An invaluable source for Tuscaloosa County residents is Tuscaloosa County’s TuscAlert, a text-based notification system for severe weather alerts.

You can sign up for TuscAlerts right here.