Alabama residents see nearly every type of severe weather one could imagine:

• Thunderstorms
• Hail
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Floods
• Ice Storms
• Derechos

However, this is the time of year most associated with tornadoes and damaging winds. The weather provides just the right mix of hot and cold with the moisture to make for dangerous conditions.

With the first real severe storms of our spring season rolling in, this would be a good time to share some general steps toward being prepared:

1) Communications

Your mobile phone can be your first and best link in a storm. Fully charge your battery in case there is an outage. Even better, stash a car charger in your ready kit.

2) Awareness

Your smartphone can also be your best warning. Some apps will trigger watches and warnings for your specific location, with no additional programming necessary. If you happen to have a weather radio, make sure the backup batteries are fresh, so the alarms will still sound in the event of a power interruption.

Keep an eye and an ear to local news outlets, which will give you a better idea of the likely time range for approaching severe storms.

3) Your Plan

If you have a storm plan, this is a great time to review it with everyone in your household or office. Make sure everyone agrees on a safe meeting place should you become separated.

If you do not have a storm plan, there are resources (such as ready.gov) available to help you get up to speed quickly. The American Red Cross has information online, and has a tornado app with a checklist of what you’ll need.

4) Your Power

Severe weather, such as high winds or direct lightning strikes, takes a toll on our equipment. If your power goes out, you can report your service status in three ways:

• Call us at 800-888-2726
• Visit alabamapower.com from your smartphone
• Follow us at @alabamapower on Twitter.