Huntsville leaders urge preparation ahead of forecasted severe storms
Published on March 14, 2025
Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville-area leaders urge residents to prepare as severe storms are forecasted to impact north Alabama on Saturday. All modes of severe weather are possible, including strong tornadoes.
“I can’t stress enough, this is an event that we’ve been tracking and an event that we need to take a lot of care with,” Mayor Battle said. “We need to be weather alert starting tonight to early Sunday morning. The National Weather Service said this is not a time to take the weather for granted. Very dangerous weather is a distinct possibility.”
The message echoed the need for residents to make a plan before severe weather arrives, including the location of your safe place, filling your vehicles with gas and knowing how to receive weather alerts.
“Be prepared. Have a plan,” said Huntsville-Madison County EMA Director Jeff Birdwell. “The biggest thing is to make sure you have different ways of receiving weather alerts and information. There are all kinds of apps and NOAA weather radios and our local news media. We have tested weather sirens, but outdoor warning sirens are meant to be heard outside. If you are inside, you’re most likely not going to hear it so have other means of receiving weather alerts.”
A list of storm shelters in Madison County can be found at MadisonCountyALEMA.gov/safe-room-locations. Limestone County storm shelters can be found at LimestoneCountyEMA-AL.gov/community-storm-shelters.
“Most people who have lived in this area for any length of time know that we can have severe weather, and it can be catastrophic for our area,” Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon said. “We are prepared for that. We have been working with our district commissioners today and checking our community storm shelters to make sure they are functioning.”
Huntsville Police Department (HPD) will be monitoring road conditions for fallen trees and other storm debris. Huntsville Fire & Rescue (HFR) is upstaffing to maximize response efforts.
“If a tornado touches down near you and you’re in a safe space, stay in the safe space,” HFR Chief Howard McFarlen said. “Don’t be out looking around. There are things you might not think about, such as a power line energizing a chain link fence. There are just a lot of safety hazards. Give us time to get that clear.
Huntsville Public Works will have crews on standby to clear roads and Huntsville Utilities has its line crews and contract crews ready to respond to power outages. Information on power outages can be found at hsvutil.org. Patience is stressed, however, because crews will not be deployed until dangerous storm conditions have ended.
Blocked roadways or property damage in Huntsville can be reported via the Huntsville Connect app or by calling HPD’s non-emergency number at 256-722-7100. Huntsville Transit will suspend operations Saturday at 3 p.m. Huntsville Animal Services, Kids Space and Get-A-Way Skatepark will be closed Saturday.
“We reiterate that this is one to take seriously,” Mayor Battle said. “Let’s make sure that we all come out of this safe.”