MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – With the type of weather expected this weekend, emergency management agencies are on high alert. Meteorologists and EMA directors agree, the coming storms are expected to pack a punch.

“Now we’re in a high risk, so it’s serious,” says Toya Stiles, EMA director of Dallas County. “It’s going to be serious [Saturday].”

Some out-of-town visitors are trying to leave before the storms hit Saturday afternoon.

“We’re leaving at 5 a.m., so we’ll give ourselves lots of time,” said Katie Bendt, a Montgomery visitor.

In Dallas County, the EMA says it’s better prepared for the threat after having dealt with devastating tornadoes just two years ago.

“With the January 12, 2023, tornado, that was an eye-opener here for the residents of Dallas County, and moving forward, they are more weather-aware,” said Stiles.

As the WSFA First Alert Weather team has recommended, it’s important to have a safe space during the storms, and manufactured or mobile homes are not considered safe in severe weather.

“They need to get out of those mobile homes and get to a safe place,” said Melissa Dove, the EMA director of Wilcox County.

If you do go to a county safe space or storm shelter, bring anything you could need during the storms, like “some snacks, water, bottled water, medications, anything that they might need to get them through the night,” Dove explained.

These EMA directors agree, this storm is not something to be taken lightly.

“This is going to be a devastating type storm,” Dove warned.

These EMA directors say to make sure to have multiple ways to receive weather notifications, make sure you have a safe place, and an emergency supply kit.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!

Copyright 2025 WSFA. All rights reserved.