Hartselle and North Alabama dodged a bullet on Sunday night heading into early Monday morning.

This was our first significant severe weather threat since April 27. While the devastation wasn’t as widespread as it was on that fateful day, the damage caused by the tornadoes in Jefferson and Chilton counties was bad enough, especially if you had a loved one affected by those storms.

I applaud all of the television meteorologist for warning all of us to be prepared for it. Although it didn’t happen here, it was still close enough that it could have happened here if the weather conditions had come together like they did over Central Alabama.

In some ways, what made this storm system more nerve-racking is the fact that it happened at night. For night severe weather events, you cannot rely on just hearing your local siren or on watching TV.

The only way to get the warning is to have a NOAA weather radio. They are the only thing that might wake you up during the night.

It’s worth the cost if it saves your life.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.