Jefferson County EMA Media Alerts

Severe Thunders Watch

2007-07-20T10:40:00.000-05:00

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 546 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0546.070720T1520Z-070720T2300Z/
AL
. ALABAMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
AUTAUGA/ BARBOUR/ BIBB/BLOUNT/ BULLOCK /CALHOUN/CHAMBERS/ CHEROKEE/ CHILTON/CLAY/ CLEBURNE /COOSA /CULLMAN/ DALLAS/ ELMORE/ETOWAH FAYETTE/HALE/JEFFERSON/LAMAR/LEE/LOWNDES/ MACON/ MARION/
MARSHALL/ MONTGOMERY/ PERRY/PIKE/ RANDOLPH/ RUSSELL /SHELBY/ ST. CLAIR /TALLADEGA/TALLAPOOSA/ TUSCALOOSA/ WALKER /WINSTON

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

2007-01-07T13:38:00.000-06:00

NWS IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING OR...
JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WARRIOR...VESTAVIA HILLS...
TRUSSVILLE...TARRANT...PLEASANT GROVE...MOUNTAIN BROOK...MINOR...
MIDFIELD...LIPSCOMB...LEEDS...IRONDALE...HUEYTOWN...HOOVER...
HOMEWOOD...GARDENDALE...FULTONDALE...FORESTDALE...FAIRFIELD...
CENTER POINT...CAHABA HEIGHTS...BRIGHTON...BIRMINGHAM...BESSEMER...
ADAMSVILLE...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE
UNTIL 215 PM CST

Tornado Watch # 10

2007-01-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 10
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 1230 PM UNTIL 800 PM CST.

Tornado Watch

2007-01-05T02:55:00.000-06:00

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 3
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
115 AM CST FRI JAN 5 2007
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL 10 AM

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

2006-11-30T22:49:00.000-06:00

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...PLEASANT GROVE...MINOR...HUEYTOWN...
GARDENDALE...FORESTDALE...ADAMSVILLE

* UNTIL 1100 PM CST

* AT 1028 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH.
Michael E. Harter, MEP
Training & Exercise Officer
709 North 19th Street
Birmingham, Al 35203 --------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

TORNADO WATCH 857 NOV 15, 2006

2006-11-15T14:50:00.000-06:00

The National Weather Service has cleared Jefferson County from Torndao Watch 857 as of 2:43 PM.

TORNADO WATCH 857 NOV 15, 06

2006-11-15T10:47:00.000-06:00

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 857 INEFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ALABAMA
THIS WATCH INCLUDES JEFFERSON COUNTY

THIS INCLUDE THE CITIES OF...BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER

Community Awareness Day

2006-10-04T05:31:00.000-05:00

Come visit your favorite News personalities, National Weather Service, and others at Lynn Park today from 9 AM till 2 PM for Jefferson County EMA Community Awareness Day.
Come and learn about preparedness and other information from vendors and others.
Michael E. Harter, MEP
Training & Exercise Officer
709 North 19th Street
Birmingham, Al 35203 --------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Severe Thunderstrom Watch

2006-08-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 709 TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AREAS UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING IN ALABAMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES

CENTRAL ALABAMA:
BIBB, DALLAS, JEFFERSON, PERRY, SHELBY,

WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA:
GREENE, HALE, MARENGO, PICKENS, SUMTER, TUSCALOOSA

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

2006-07-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
WEST CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ADAMSVILLE
SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
* AT 219 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES
EAST OF GOODSPRINGS...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORDOVA...AND
MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
7 MILES NORTHWEST OF MAYTOWN...8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SYLVAN SPRINGS
AND 9 MILES WEST OF ADAMSVILLE BY 245 PM CDT

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

Michael E. Harter, MEP
Training & Exercise Officer
709 North 19th Street
Birmingham, Al 35203 --------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Severe Thunder Storm Watch

2006-06-22T20:10:00.000-05:00

The NWS has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Jefferson Co untill 8:15 PM. Quarter inch hail has been reported to the NWS by spotters in the Irondale area.
Michael E. Harter, MEP
Training & Exercise Officer
709 North 19th Street
Birmingham, Al 35203 --------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Lightning Safety Awareness Week June 18 to June 24

2006-06-15T13:12:00.000-05:00

June 15, 2006

NOAA ANNOUNCES LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK,

EMPHASIZES RISK REDUCTION
“Leon the Lightning Lion” Joins Effort To Educate Children

Reducing the risk of being struck by lightning is the focus of national Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 18-24. Lightning is most common in the summer months, but can be a hazard throughout the year. And although most lightning victims are struck outdoors, lightning poses a threat to those indoors as well.
“All thunderstorms produce potentially deadly and destructive lightning. Knowing lightning is in the forecast and being prepared to react to the first sound of thunder are the initial key safety steps,” said Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of NOAA’s National Weather Service.
If you are outdoors and see darkening skies or hear thunder, seek a sturdy, enclosed shelter immediately, such as a building or hardtop automobile. “Don’t wait for rain to start falling to seek shelter from the storm — by then it could be too late,” says John Jensenius, lightning expert with NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Lightning causalities frequently occur before the rain begins and soon after the rain ends. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before returning outside.”
If you are indoors during a thunderstorm, try not to use corded appliances and electronics, such as computers and phones, as well as plumbing. Electrical wiring and pipes can provide a path for lightning to enter an enclosed structure.
“Lightning is a cunning and powerful force of nature. It is important to realize there are no guaranteed safe shelters — rather only ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim,” adds Jensenius.
Last year in the United States, lightning was reported to have killed at least 43 people. On average, lightning is responsible for 66 fatalities annually. Additionally, hundreds of people are injured by lightning. “Lightning survivors are often left with debilitating health effects, such as permanent nerve damage or brain injury,” says Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, professor at the University of Illinois’s department of emergency medicine.
To stress the importance of lightning safety for people of all ages, the Lightning Safety Alliance created a cartoon character, Leon the Lightning Lion, who promotes the slogan “When thunder roars, go indoors!” created by a private group, Struckbylightning.org. Both organizations are among the NOAA partners providing public information about lightning safety. Leon is featured in a new children’s coloring page that can be printed from NOAA’s lightning safety Web site.
The National Weather Service is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with our federal partners and more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global earth observation network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.
###

On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA’s National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov
NOAA Lightning Safety: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
NOAA Lightning Safety (en Espanol): http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/espanol.htm

Monthly Test

2006-06-07T10:03:00.001-05:00

This is just a test message for the Community Alert system, from the Jefferson County EMA.

EOC deactivated as severe weather threat passes

2006-04-21T19:07:00.000-05:00

The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency deactivated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 7:00 p.m. The EOC was activated at 4:00 p.m. as a precautionary measure, with the National Weather Service having forecast a threat of severe weather during this evening. A change in atmospheric conditions has led the Weather Service to downgrade the potential threat, and the EOC has been deactivated for tonight.

Emergency Operations Center activated for possible severe weather

2006-04-21T17:25:00.000-05:00

The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. This action is precautionary, in preparation for potentially severe weather forecast for tonight.

According to the National Weather Service, Jefferson County is one of 51 Alabama counties currently under a severe weather watch this evening. A line of storms is now moving into the state, and possibly severe thunderstorms are forecast for Jefferson County beginning early this evening; the threat of severe weather is expected to remain until late tonight. To help ensure a coordinated, countywide response to any damage or other emergency situations which may arise from this severe weather threat, the EOC will remain on active status until further notice.

Initial Introduction

2006-03-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Public Alert Page for the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency.

The Jefferson County EMA serves Alabama's most populous county.

As situations warrant, we will post important public bulletins here as a resource for those wanting to know about dangerous and hazardous conditions anywhere in Jefferson County. The updates might happen daily -- they might be two weeks in between -- or they might be necessary 25 times in a day.

We'll be using this space to keep you informed. Please bookmark us, and thanks for your interest in our community.