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General

Class 6A girls soccer: Briarwood Christian downs Mountain Brook on PK’s for 10th state title

Celebrations are that much sweeter when your family is around to share it with you.

On Saturday in Huntsville, Briarwood Christian girls soccer coach Ryan Leib got that chance one last time as his daughter, Taylor Leib, provided the final play of a standout season.

Briarwood’s girls claimed the program’s 10th state soccer championship with a 2-1 victory over Mountain Brook that went into penalty kicks as the senior provided the game-ending PK.

The victory also gives the Lions their first state championship since 2017.

“You can’t put into words how special it is when your daughter’s out there, being able to watch her and do that and just have that moment together,” the Briarwood coach said. “I can’t even express how happy it is.”

Taylor, set to play collegiate soccer at Clemson, also picked up a hat trick in the Lions’ 4-1 semifinal victory over Spanish Fort on Thursday.

“I’ve still got more soccer, but it’s the last time playing with him, so it’s a really big deal,” she said of playing for her father. “He’s been with me every step of the way, he’s been my coach forever. It’s just so amazing to have him by my side every step of the way.”

Mountain Brook scored 8 minutes into the matchup as Samford signee Langston Lilly converted a set piece. She finished with 5 shots on goal for the Spartans.

Taylor Matthews scored the equalizer for Briarwood with just 1:31 left in the matchup to send it to overtime, which saw tournament MVP Catherine Walker continue to shine at keeper in penalty kicks.

“She’s been doing great,” the Briarwood coach said. “She’s a freshman, she doesn’t know how big of a moment it is, she’s just out there playing. She’s done a great job all year, and really came forward, came through on the PK’s, and it was huge.”

Taylor said the goalkeeper’s play was “amazing,” praising the player for her pair of saves in the key shootout.

“Keeper came up with some huge saves, we had to make it,” she said of her goal. “All I had to do was make it and we win the tournament. All that was going in my head was don’t hit it over, honestly, so pretty much just put it on frame trying to make the goal.”

The victory avenged a loss last season to Mountain Brook, which saw the Spartans claim last year’s championship with a 2-0 victory.

Taylor described going out a champion as a senior as “the best blessing we could have had.”

“We have so many young girls on this team that have stepped up in such big roles,” she said. “We have eighth graders, freshmen, so many girls that have stepped up and done what we need to do. Brooklyn’s (Barnett) played forward her whole career and had to drop into the six this year. What she did for the team is so amazing.”

The veteran coach prided his team on digging deep and battling adversity all season, especially in moments like Saturday’s championship victory.

“We just talk about how we’ve got to play for the Lord, do whatever we have to do for the Lord,” he said. “Whatever the results are, they are, and they just didn’t stop working and didn’t quit. Had to build them back up a little bit, but they did a great job.

“It was a really special season.”

General

Target’s incredibly stylish $900 fire pit set is on sale for just $380

Target is offering a ton of deals on fire pits and outdoor heaters this week, including a major markdown on the Costway 28″ Propane Fire Pit Table sete that comes with a convenient “hideaway” tank holder.

With this deal, Target customers can get the chic Costway Fire Pit Table for $380 instead of its normal $900 price tag, a 58% discount overall. Free shipping is also included with purchase.

Costway 28″ Patio Propane Fire Pit Table w/Hideaway Tank Holder – $380.99

The Costway Fire Pit Table with a hideaway tank holder is more than $500 off at Target.

Buy Now

In addition to concealing the propane tank, the tank holder also serves as a handy side table that enhances the ambiance of one’s outdoor space. Meanwhile, the included fabric covers are waterproof, dust-proof and sun-proof, protecting the propane fire pit and propane tank holder against potential damage.

To ignite the fire, just connect a standard 20-Lb propane tank, then press the ignition button and turn the control knob. Depending on your preferences, you can easily adjust the flame to a high or low level.

“The two-piece fire pit table and tank holder set is a must-have addition to elevating your outdoor space on cold days. The sleek and sturdy terrazzo surface not only adds a touch of visual appeal but also ensures durability in various weather conditions. With a powerful 40,000 BTU heat output, this fire pit table quickly warms up your surroundings,” Target’s product details state.

“Thanks to the simple ignition system, you can enjoy the two-level adjustable flame as well as the warmth. What’s more, the propane gas cylinder (not included) can be hidden under the tank holder. Boasting a dual purpose design, this tank holder also serves as a practical side table.”

Those interested in this deal can checkout the full listing on Target’s website here.

General

Keep the U.S. ahead in space by backing Alabama’s workforce: op-ed

This is a guest opinion column

Here in Huntsville, we do not just support America’s space program—we help lead it. At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and across our region, thousands of skilled Alabamians are helping power the future of American spaceflight. That includes the Space Launch System (SLS), a critical part of NASA’s Artemis program and the only rocket in the world capable of carrying both astronauts and heavy cargo to the Moon in a single launch.

As Congress works through the budget reconciliation process, leaders will be forced to make difficult choices. The goal of ensuring fiscal responsibility while delivering meaningful tax relief is an important one. But how we get there matters. If the process focuses too narrowly on short-term savings, we risk doing real damage to programs that are vital to America’s long-term security, global leadership, and economic strength. President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget calls for phasing out the SLS after just three flights. While this proposal isn’t binding and will not be decided through reconciliation, it sends a clear signal—and it should give Congress pause. Now is not the time to scale back on the only launch system capable of sustaining deep space exploration. Doing so would directly impact on our ability to meet mission goals and would ripple through communities like ours that help build and maintain this world-class capability.

The stakes go far beyond exploration. America’s space program plays a critical role in national security, economic competitiveness, and technological leadership. As countries like China accelerate their own investments in space, we cannot afford to fall behind. Reconciliation decisions should reflect that strategic reality—because while the process is meant to address tax and spending priorities, it can have real consequences for programs like NASA’s. The proposed cuts show how the process can shift national priorities and put critical investments like the Space Launch System at risk. The Artemis program is also delivering real economic returns. The SLS alone supports more than 35,000 jobs across the country, and more than 15,000 of those are right here in Alabama, contributing over $2.1 billion in economic output annually. That is not just a budget line, but livelihoods, innovation, and long-term industrial capacity.

Congress has a chance to pursue smart, targeted savings while still protecting strategic investments. That means resisting cuts that could undercut America’s space leadership. I am grateful that Alabama’s congressional delegation, including Senator Katie Britt and Congressman Robert Aderholt, continue to be strong champions for these priorities. Their leadership will be essential as both the reconciliation package and the FY 2026 budget takes shape.

If we want to stay ahead in space—and ensure that America leads, not follows—we need to protect the programs and people who make that possible. Reconciliation should be a tool for building a stronger future, not dismantling the foundations we have worked so hard to build.

Joseph Summers is the CEO of Minerva Defense in Huntsville, Alabama.

General

Class 7A boys soccer: Montgomery Academy ends Oak Mountain’s perfect season

Montgomery Academy ended The Streak and took home the Class 7A championship.

MA (19-5-2) scored twice in less than two minutes early in the first half and earned a 2-1 victory over Oak Mountain – ending OM’s 49-game winning streak and 60-game unbeaten string dating back to the 2023 season – in Saturday’s Class 7A boys championship at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

It’s MA’s first state boys soccer title.

“I’ve always believed we were the best team in the state,” Montgomery Academy coach Gui Mondaini said.

MA’s first goal was scored with an own goal, after a long kick ricocheted off Oak Mountain goalkeeper Owen Wells’ hands and landed in the back of the net in the eighth minute. Then, less than two minutes later, tournament MVP Cade Seagars scored on an assist from Ethan Yi to make it 2-0.

“Maybe it shocked us a little bit,” Oak Mountain coach David DiPiazza said.

Top-ranked Oak Mountain, which carried a No. 1 national ranking by MaxPreps into the match, had allowed two goals only one other time this season – a 3-2 victory over Hoover that was settled with a penalty kick shootout. On Saturday, Oak Mountain couldn’t overcome the two-goal deficit.

Oak Mountain (30-1) finished the season with 17 shutouts and allowed just 17 goals this season.

“Montgomery Academy played great,” DiPiazza said. “It’s not always us not doing something well. They’ve got great players and they’re well coached.

“I think we had an incredible season,” DiPiazza added. “I’m so proud of our seniors and what they accomplished – four trips to the final four and this is our third championship game. My heart breaks for them.”

Oak Mountain’s Nate Taylor scored in the 54th minute on a penalty kick to cut MA’s lead to 2-1.

Eighth-ranked Montgomery Academy’s victory avenged a 5-0 loss to Oak Mountain in the Wiregrass Cup in late February, although Mondaini said he missed four starters, including two who were playing in the state basketball tournament in Birmingham, for that early-season showdown.

Montgomery Academy won the Class 3A basketball title, but the boys soccer team plays in 7A because of the AHSAA’s competitive balance rule. The victory over Oak Mountain gives Montgomery Academy its first state boys state soccer title after making multiple trips to Huntsville in the last decade.

“To win in 7A as a 3A school is just incredible,” Yi said.

General

Alabama man dies in single-vehicle ATV accident

A 65-year-Decatur man was killed in single-vehicle crash involving an all-terrain vehicle.

Larry D. Whitlock was killed Friday evening when his 2001 Honda Rancher ATV left the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned. Whitlock was thrown from the ATV and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Alabama State Troopers.

The crash occurred on Lawrence County 362, about four miles west of Trinity, in Lawrence County.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the incident.

General

Update: Tornado warning for Geneva and Houston counties

On Saturday at 11:47 a.m. an updated tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until noon for Geneva and Houston counties.

“At 11:46 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Slocomb, or 7 miles northwest of Graceville, moving northeast at 30 mph,” says the weather service. “Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”

Locations impacted by the warning include Merritts Crossroads, Fadette, Olympia Spa Resort, Keytons, Taylor, Light, Rehobeth, Slocomb, Malvern, Memphis and Dothan.

The weather service adds, “Take cover now! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.”

Tornado watch vs. Tornado warning: Know the difference

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your cue to review and discuss your emergency plans, check your supplies, and locate your safe room.
While it doesn’t indicate an imminent tornado, it’s a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning signifies that a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate danger to life and property.
Your response should be swift: move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or through reports from trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Get ready for tornadoes

Be weather-ready:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay informed about tornado risks. Tune in to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on tornado watches and warnings

Sign up for notifications:

Familiarize yourself with your community’s warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Create a communication plan:

Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. If you live in a mobile home or home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building you can get to quickly, such as a church or family member.

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room within your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor without windows.

Establish a communication plan:

Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when tornado warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time allows.

Prepare your home:

Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Extend a helping hand:

Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.

Tornado safety: What to do when the twister hits

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

To ensure your safety during a tornado, remember that acting promptly is crucial, according to the weather service. Stay informed about tornado watches and warnings through regular updates on local news or a NOAA Weather Radio.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

In the workplace or at school, adhere to tornado drill procedures and proceed promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter. Avoid areas with large, open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and stay away from windows.

Outdoors:

If you’re outdoors and a tornado is approaching, seek immediate shelter inside a sturdy building. Sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe. If there’s time, make your way to a secure structure.

In a vehicle:

It is not safe to be in a vehicle during a tornado. The recommended action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

The mockingbird effect

By Ricardo Sandoval

On a crystal-clear Sunday, in the hills above the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, I recently spent an unexpected afternoon talking about music, musicians, and the icons of the Latino and Chicano folk and rock scene.

I love all manner of music, and I don’t mind rhapsodizing with friends through lists of “the best of” in a number of genres.

But this particular Sunday in the San Francisco Bay Area was a sparkler — sun-drenched but tempered by a cool breeze — ideal for a hike along the bay shore or indulging in a way-too-long lunch at an outdoor café. So when a mutual friend introduced me to the legendary Eugene Rodriguez over mid-morning coffee, I suddenly had to choose: enjoy the good weather that makes us jealous on the Mid-Atlantic coast or nerd out about music with a cultural icon.

Three hours later, I was still in our friend’s tricked-out audio-visual room, exploring videos and recordings of artists like Linda Rondstadt and Los Lobos, fiddling with the room’s fancy tech, and comparing historical notes about the leading Latino folk and rock artists of our time.

I didn’t want to leave.

Call it the Mockingbird Effect.

In 1989, Eugene Rodriguez founded the nonprofit Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in the working-class community of San Pablo, not far from the UC Berkeley campus.

He was propelled into action, taking a break from a good run of producing music in Los Angeles, because he’d seen a build-up of social unrest at a time when youths were striking back against police abuse and racism that seemed baked into society. Many teens he’d been working with as a music and dance producer could have been lost in a dysfunctional public school system or to gang violence of the early 1990s.

As a way to reach introverted teens, Rodriguez forged Cenzontles as something of a refuge. He began to create opportunities for youth to discover the value of the music, art, and cultural traditions in their community, from the music their mothers and fathers loved, to the soul, rock, and blues rhythms that swirled around them. Kids could pick up and learn to play an instrument or focus on vocals or dance.

The academy has since thrived. Los Cenzontles (The Mockingbirds, from the Nahuatl language of the Mexica — OK, the Aztecs) has trained hundreds of young musicians and dancers who’ve toured the country and Latin America.

In an interview with palabra, Rodriguez offered something of a tour of California music history. He explored the motivation behind his new book and the latest collaborations with Rondstadt and David Hidalgo. This short documentary became a slice of all that, with music clips and images vital to the Cenzontles story.

So it’s a gift to society that Rodriguez has poured the last four decades of his life onto the pages of the autobiography, “Bird Of Four Hundred Voices.” It’s a fitting tribute to the real California sound: a delicious salad of Mexican folk music, blues, and the rockabilly that still draws youths to neighborhood garages and small clubs which over the decades have generated the likes of The Blasters and Los Lobos.

The Centzontles sound, if you must narrow it down to a signature note, is Mexican — a new rendition of rancheras, corridos, huapangos, and cumbias.

Eugene Rodriguez with his book, “Bird of Four Hundred Voices.”Photo courtesy of Los Cenzontles

As a producer, Rodriguez has fostered 30 albums and several films. He’s partnered with his friend Linda Ronstadt, Lalo Guerrero (the padrino of Chicano folk), blues master Taj Mahal, world music pioneer Ry Cooder, and Jackson Browne, the storyteller who conquered the pop airwaves. Along the way, Rodriguez has maintained a close relationship with Hidalgo and the California rock/folk masters Los Lobos.

Rodriguez writing and music have been featured in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, and on NPR‘s Alt.Latino podcast, the weather vane for the hottest in Latino music. Rodriguez’s work in music education has also been honored by the California Arts Council and the group United States Artists.

What seems like Rodriguez’s incongruous start in the music business reflects the ad hoc feel of Los Centzontles’ Californio sound:

“At first glance, little about my childhood would have foretold that I would dedicate my life to Mexican folk culture,” Rodriguez writes in his book — a biography laced with lyrics and poetry that have moved him, from classic poetry to the writings of scribes in Mexico’s once-powerful indigenous tribes. “I am a third-generation Mexican American who grew up speaking English in a middle-class neighborhood in Southern California … Unlike other children and grandchildren of immigrants who distance themselves from their raw ancestral traditions as they acculturate, there was for me something in the unvarnished immediacy of roots music that gave me a sense of connection and possibility.”

General

Country music star Dierks Bentley kicks off 2025 tour this month, here’s how to score tickets

Country music star Dierks Bentley is kicking off his 2025 Broken Branches tour in Austin, Texas at the Moody Center on Thursday, May 29.

The massive tour is slated for 38 shows around the country and includes special guests Zach Top and The Band Loula.

The upcoming Broken Branches tour precedes an upcoming album release by Bentley, which he teased with the release of his recent single “She Hates Me.” The upcoming album, titled the same name as the tour, will be available for streaming on June 13.

Currently, four singles off the album have been released including “Well Well Whiskey,” “Standing in The Sun,” and “Cold Beer Can” featuring Stephen Wilson Jr.

Broken Branches tour tickets

Those interested in attending one of Bentley’s upcoming shows can find tickets still available for purchase even though the tour tickets pre-sale happened back in February. Great deals on tickets can be found on trusted ticket resell vendors such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, Viagogo and Seat Geek.

2025 Broken Branches tour dates

May 29 – Austin, Texas
May 30 – Dallas, Texas
May 31 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 5 – Alpharetta, Georgia
June 6 – Tampa, Florida
June 7 – West Palm Beach, Florida
June 8 – Nashville, Tennessee
June 12 – Toronto, Ontario
June 13 – North Lawrence, Ohio
June 14 – Tinley Park, Illinois
June 19 – Chula Vista, California
June 20 – Phoenix, Arizona
June 21 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
June 26 – Los Angeles, California
June 27 – Wheatland, California
June 28 – Mountain View, California
July 4 – Nashville, Tennessee
July 10 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
July 12 – Mansfield, Massachusetts
July 17 – Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
July 18 – Cincinnati, Ohio
July 19 – Noblesville, Indiana
July 31 – Salt Lake City, Utah
Aug. 1 – Nampa, Indiana
Aug. 2 – Quincy, Washington
Aug. 7 – Camden, New Jersey
Aug. 8 – Raleigh, North Carolina
Aug. 9 – Charlotte, North Carolina
Aug. 14 – Buffalo, New York
Aug. 15 – Holmdel, New Jersey
Aug. 16 – Bethel, New York
Aug. 21 – Savannah, Georgia
Aug. 22 – Birmingham, Alabama
Aug. 23 – Biloxi, Mississippi
Aug. 28 – New York City, New York
Aug. 29 – Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Aug. 30 – Clarkston, Michigan

General

Celtics-Knicks game 3 free livestream: Where to watch NBA Playoffs second round, TV, channel

The No. 2 Boston Celtics play against the No. 3 New York Knicks in game 3 of their NBA Playoff series today. The matchup will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Celtics currently trail 2-0 in this series, and they are coming off a close 91-90 loss.

In order to bounce back today, the Celtics will need a great performance from their star forward Jayson Tatum. He averages nearly 27 points per game, which leads the Boston offense. However, Tatum only scored 13 points and shot 5-19 from the field last game. With this in mind, Tatum will try to improve his offensive efficiency this afternoon.

In order to win game 3, the Knicks will need to rely on their star guard Jalen Brunson. He averages nearly 30 points per game in the postseason, which leads the New York offense.

Fans can watch game 3 of this NBA Playoff series for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

General

Tornado watch issued for Southeast Alabama until early Saturday evening

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 10:22 a.m. on Saturday in effect until 5 p.m. for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: What you need to know

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the difference between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Let’s break it down:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your cue to review and discuss your emergency plans, check your supplies, and locate your safe room.
While it doesn’t indicate an imminent tornado, it’s a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate danger to life and property.
Your response should be swift: move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, seek the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or through reports from trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Prepare for a tornado

Stay weather-ready:

Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.

Sign up for alerts:

Familiarize yourself with your community’s warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Establish a communication plan:

Create a family emergency plan that includes a designated meeting place and important contact information. If your home lacks a basement, identify a nearby safe building, like a church or a relative’s house, that you can reach quickly.

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.

Establish a communication plan:

Conduct regular family drills for severe thunderstorms so everyone knows what to do when a tornado threat arises. Ensure that all family members are aware of the safe location to seek shelter, and don’t forget about your pets if time permits.

Prepare your home:

Consider reinforcing your safe room for added protection. You can find plans for fortifying an interior room on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Help your neighbor:

Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.

Tornado survival guide: Immediate actions for your safety

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outdoors:

If a tornado is on its way, seek shelter inside a solid building immediately. Sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe places to be.

In a vehicle:

Being inside a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best course of action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car while covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek safety in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.