Things you learn watching tornado coverage

You learn lots of towns’ names you’ve never heard before, even if they are only a short drive away.

Towns named Hamner, Geiger, Snoddy, Braggvile, Hycutt, Creet, Black Bottom, Blow Gourd, and Brushy Pond.

When the TV weather folk move the radar cams in close the little Alabama towns pop up like magic.

For a brief shining moment the little towns have their day in the sun, figuratively speaking.

And don’t feel bad if you don’t know where Blow Gourd is. It’s few miles south of Cleveland. That’s Cleveland, Alabama, of course. But you knew that already.

Then the camera pulls back and — poof, the tiny towns of Alabama are gone.