11/05/2026
So, this is long, but it does show the compassion that I have and the love for what I do. So, if you appreciate our page, take a minute and read this. Yes, it's long. In fact, take a few minutes and read this LOL. You won't regret it . early this morning, I was looking over the weather models and thinking, "This could get interesting." We had a warm front sitting just to our northeast over toward Georgia, and a cold front approaching from the west. If the timing came together just right, there was potential for strong to severe storms.
To be honest, though, I wasn't overly concerned at first.
That changed the moment I stepped outside.
It's hard to explain, but over the years I've developed a feeling that comes around when conditions are favorable for supercells or tornadoes. It's not something I rely on instead of the data, but it's a feeling I've experienced enough times to pay attention when it hits. this evening, it hit me pretty hard most of the time it's been right ever sense i was a child.
I immediately got on the radio and told everyone, "We're going to go ahead and activate. It just feels like tornado weather today. It may not amount to anything, and I sure hope it doesn't, but if it does, we're going to be ready."
From that point forward, I put the word out over our Zello communications network. Our local Emergency management in Jackson county were already prepared and monitoring conditions as well, so everyone was on the same page. We settled in and began watching the storms closely.
What caught my attention first was the wind shear over northeast Alabama, particularly across the far northeastern portions of DeKalb County around Fort Payne. The storms developing ahead of the main line were already showing signs of increasing organization, with decent shear and even some indications of rotation.
So we kept watching.
As the evening progressed, things started to intensify. Then we noticed a rotation signature developing very close to our station. Very close.
That circulation continued moving northeast and strengthened considerably as it approached the Fort Payne area. At that point, I had to put my pride aside and accept the possibility that some people might think I was overreacting if nothing happened.
That's part of doing this.
People will sometimes say you hyped something up when there are no warnings issued or when the worst-case scenario doesn't happen. Even now, it still amazes me that there were no warnings associated with what we were seeing. Somewhere along the line there was a breakdown in communication, or maybe something else was missed. I honestly don't know.
What I do know is this: we were blessed to track it. I was blessed to get that unmistakable feeling that something wasn't right before it arrived.
Because of that, we were ready.
We did everything we possibly could to be prepared and to help keep people informed.
My hope is that more people continue to follow and support what we're doing. We're not here for recognition, popularity, or personal gain. We do this because we genuinely love helping our community and serving the people who trust us to keep them informed.
The reality, though, is that sometimes we need help too.
I would love to find individuals, businesses, or sponsors who believe in what we're doing and want to help us expand our capabilities across Northeast Alabama. Unfortunately, one person can't handle every aspect of an operation like this alone.
While many of you hear me talking during these events, what you don't always see is everything happening in the background. I'm monitoring multiple radios, watching Doppler radar, answering questions, communicating with emergency personnel and weather spotters across the region, posting updates, and trying to stay focused on rapidly changing conditions all at the same time.
That's a tremendous responsibility for any one person.
I'm incredibly thankful for the communications team that stands beside me today. Their support means more than I can put into words. But after all these years, after seeing this exact type of situation play out time and time again, there's still something I struggle to understand.
We've earned the trust of many people. We've helped communities prepare for dangerous situations. We've been recognized numerous times for our work. Yet it's often difficult to find long-term support for an volunteer group whose entire purpose is helping others.
People are often willing to invest in organizations that already have plenty of resources, but hesitate to support grassroots efforts that are working directly for their communities.
Why?
Is our time not valuable?
Are the advance warnings and information we provide not valuable?
I believe they are.
Time and time again, we've demonstrated the difference this work can make.
I care deeply about the people of this region. That's why I started this group. I built it from the ground up. When I first began, I had very little support. Most people probably thought I was just a weather-obsessed rookie with a dream. But eventually people began to see the potential, and little by little we grew into what we are today.
I just wanted to share that with everyone tonight.
And if there is anyone who believes in our mission, who wants to sponsor what we do, or who would like to help us turn some of our goals and dreams into reality, please reach out to me through Messenger.
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue serving our communities, improving our operations, and being there when people need us most.
Thank you all for your support, your trust, and for allowing us to do what we love. And if you've got a comment, make sure you leave it below. We definitely want to hear from you.
