As Hurricane Helene brutally reminded us, hurricanes can have devastating effects well inland – especially when terrain gets involved. While Alabama’s coast would obviously be affected by a hurricane, the mountains and hills of northeast Alabama would channel the heavy rain of a slow-moving hurricane into catastrophic flooding and a significant threat to both property and life. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency joined the Marshall County EMA and other partner agencies this week for an important “what if” exercise to prepare for any future major hurricane impacting Alabama.

The exercise simulated a Category 4 Hurricane “Howell” making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast before moving into Northeast Alabama. Participants addressed how they would respond to tropical-storm-force winds, potential tornadoes, and the resulting impacts on communities and critical infrastructure. Each agency practiced coordinated decision-making, information sharing, resource management, and public protection activities during a rapidly developing hurricane scenario. The exercise brought together the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, county emergency managers, the Alabama Department of Public Health, the American Red Cross and other response partners to evaluate how effectively they can coordinate before and during a significant weather disaster.

The event was structured as a functional tabletop exercise, allowing participants to work through a simulated hurricane response without deploying actual field resources. The exercise includes multiple modules that progressively develop the scenario and require participants to respond to evolving conditions.

The exercise provided an opportunity to identify strengths, uncover gaps in plans and procedures, clarify roles and responsibilities, and develop improvements that can enhance the community’s ability to protect life and provide essential services during a catastrophic weather event.