From floods to tornadoes, severe weather can strike Alabama year-round. In 2024, 71 tornadoes were reported in Alabama according to the National Weather Service. One person died, and 20 were injured as a result of these storms.
Feb. 3-7 is Severe Weather Awareness Week. Cross off all the items on this list to stay safe during storms.
1. Create an emergency plan.
Locate nearby campus storm shelters and decide what route you would take to get there.
If you can’t make it to a storm shelter, Best Available Refuge Areas exist in almost every building on campus. Building Emergency Plans are located by exits or elevators.
Use the UA Safety app for directions to the nearest campus storm shelter or BARA.
2. Build an emergency kit.
You may lose electricity or water service because of severe weather. This could last for hours or days. Create an emergency supply kit to be prepared. Identify individuals who can be part of your emergency support team.
Emergency kits may include:
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food and manual can opener
- Flashlight, battery-powered or hand crank radio, and spare batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- First aid kit and necessary health equipment
- Antiseptic wipes or hand sanitizer
- Dust mask to filter contaminated air
- List of model and serial numbers of any medical devices
- Spare eyeglasses
- Hearing aids and batteries, if needed
- Prescriptions, if needed
- Medical alert tags or bracelets, or a written description of your needs in case you are unable to communicate during an emergency
Stock up during the sales tax holiday
Alabama’s annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is begins at midnight on Feb. 21 and runs until midnight on Feb. 23. No state sales or use tax is charged on several items that help in the event of severe weather, such as a self-contained first aid kit.
3. Pinpoint your location on a map.
Storms tend to approach Tuscaloosa from the west or southwest. It’s important to remember that Pickens, Greene, Hale and Sumter Counties are in those directions. Keep watch on storms in those counties as they may move toward Tuscaloosa.
4. Have multiple ways to stay informed.
- Follow @UA_Safety on Instagram, Facebook and X.
- Download the UA Safety App.
- Bookmark or favorite 92.5 FM UA Info Radio.
- Download weather apps that provide local weather radar, and will warn you in the event of severe weather.
- Purchase a NOAA weather radio for your home.
5. Check out additional resources:
• Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
• Instructions for Sheltering in Place.
Safety Reminder: UA Alert System Test
Weather permitting, the University will test its emergency notification systems, including UA Alerts, the public address system and digital signage Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 11:55 a.m.