I've lived here in Bama all my 53 years, it's no worse than anywhere else. You just have to be prepared, have a safe place to go when they're comming. I was right in the track of the F4 that went through Tuscaloosa last year, but about 4 hours before it hit. It hit the very customer that I still load out of every day. The night before and that morning, I crossed the first line of storms on my way to Memphis and on my way back to Tuscaloosa I crossed through the second line. As a matter of fact, at 5:30 that morning, one went directly over my house, sitting down about 1/4 mile later and causing some tree and rooftop destruction, it was only about 500 yards wide, a F1. Wife was at home, called me to let me know about it. I've driven through several storms that I later found out had tornadoes in them. The problem with us is the geography, rolling hills and trees, not flat land like the midwest. They can usually see them coming, us, most times we'll hear it before it ever gets in sight. I was in the storm shelter when the one came through Tuscaloosa, I had already made it home, and at the same time, we had another one go by within a few miles of us. We never saw it, but we heard it, and felt the vibrations from it. Scary!!! The classic saying is that it sounds like a freight train is close, but not exact. It's hard to describe, but for sure you feel the vibrations from them. I never want to be in a direct hit from one, but it's always a possibility in the spring and fall. You just stay prepared, know where some shelter is, watch TV and computer weather radar, and hope for the best.
At least they can sorta forecast them now. Earthquakes just happen, usually without warning. I'll take my chances knowing when a tornado is forecast over an earthquake any day!
