If the tornado warnings over the weekend weren’t enough, the reports of softball-size hail in Maylene certainly stood as a reminder that weather is unpredictable and can be dangerous.

While no one was injured in this round of Shelby County storms, severe weather can &045; and does &045; destroy property, wreck landscapes and even kill people.

There is no room for complacency when it comes to severe weather warnings.

When officials from the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service in Calera believe Shelby County to be at risk for severe weather, they will alert the public in a number of ways.

Outdoor severe-weather sirens signify a tornado warning by the National Weather Service. If they are sounded, residents are instructed to go indoors for further instruction from television or radio.

In the event of severe weather, it is vital to heed the warnings of local authorities.

Your life may depend on it.

If you are in an area where a warning has been issued, take shelter immediately. Find a basement or interior room, get out of mobile homes and cars, and stay away from windows.

You never know when heeding the warnings of a severe-weather siren will save your life or the life of a loved one