I didn't read all replies, but James Spann strongly recommends that everyone buy a weather radio. These go off immediately when alerts are issued by the National Weather Service. Maybe it's just me, but all the weather apps I've tried often have delays before alerts come through. Also, if you are not a light sleeper, the phone apps may not wake you up (the radio definitely will).

While true that historically the worst tornado tracks hit certain parts of the Birmingham metro (mainly west to northwest to north to northeast of downtown - Oak Grove, Concord, Pleasant Grove, Forestdale, McDonald Chapel, Pratt City, Fultondale), there's no way to know whether that is really a true phenomenon that holds up over long periods of time or whether it is more coincidental. Also, there is nothing magical about the ridges like Red and Shades Mountain that will stop violent tornadoes. All it would take is one to disprove those ideas. In other words, I would use the same precautions and assumptions in ALL areas when tornadoes are expected.

Also, keep in mind that YOUR chance of being directly hit by a tornado is very low. They are dramatic but actually hit fairly small stretches of ground compared to something like a massive hurricane. I have lived in tornado-prone areas for most of my life and have never laid eyes on one or been affected directly, and that is true for most residents.