by Yolanda — Tales from the Shore
Long before we had radar apps and weather alerts buzzing our pockets, my Great-Aunt Minerva had a little storm glass that sat on the edge of her pantry window. It looked like a teardrop—clear and delicate, filled with something that shimmered like salt and moonlight.
“If the crystals dance,” she’d say, squinting through her spectacles, “the wind is coming with something to say.”
I never quite knew how it worked, but she trusted it more than the weatherman on Channel 5. And wouldn’t you know it—she’d have her windows boarded and her porch plants secured hours before the first distant rumble rolled in from Mobile Bay. The neighbors used to laugh. Until they didn’t.
These days, we may not have Minerva’s storm glass, but we do have something even better—knowledge we can share, and people committed to keeping our communities prepared.
🌀 Storm Ready Workshop — June 18, 2025
📍 Gulf Coast Research & Extension Center
8300 Hwy 104, Fairhope, AL
🕘 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
This no-cost workshop offers hands-on training and preparedness resources to help you protect your family, home, and property during severe weather events. Experts will cover:
Storm tracking and evacuation planning
How to build a proper emergency kit
Coastal flood risk and wind insurance tips
Local volunteer and community response programs
It’s the kind of gathering Aunt Minerva would’ve appreciated—equal parts science and shared wisdom.
Learn more & register
There’s something sacred about preparing before the storm—not out of fear, but out of love. Love for the life you’ve built, the neighbors you wave to each morning, and the patch of sky you call home.
So if the winds start whispering this summer, you won’t need a crystal vial to know what to do.
You’ll already be ready.
