Wow, how about that winter weather we experienced Tuesday.

There’s nothing like a tornado warning and 65 degree temperatures in the middle of January to make you dream about spring, is there?

Luckily we seem to have escaped unscathed, though for a few minutes after lunch people across town hunkered down in their safe places, whether that was a hallway in Kenrose Elementary School or a corporate headquarters in Maryland Farms.

"The bubble is safe," Fire Chief Brian Goss emailed me.

Though we’re on the fast-track to get severe weather information from the Williamson County Emergency Management Office here at the BHP office, it was only a matter of minutesafter that alert arrived that my first Nixle alert from the city popped up.

Time dated at 12:47 p.m. , it read “The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for western Williamson County until 1:00 pm.”

At 1:04, an update arrived: "A tornado warning has been issued for northern Williamson County until 1:30 p.m.”

Time to batten down the hatches.

On Sunday night, just as I was getting ready to turn off the computer for the night, I got the Nixle alert from Brentwood Police to avoid Holly Tree Gap Road due to the vehicle crash that we learned later sent to teens to local hospitals, one in critical condition.

So my question is: Have you signed up for Nixle alerts? It’s quick, easy and doesn’t cost anything. If the thought of Twitter makes you shudder, no worries. Just click the link I’ll provide at the end of this, then hit the Sign Up button, put in your email address, a password, your full name and mobile phone number if you want to get important alerts via text. Then you’ll be asked to enter your home address or closest intersection. This allows information specific to your neighborhood to be provided to you.

It also asks you to refer friends and family to the Nixle system. You don’t have to, but if you have children away at college, or neighbors who may not know about the service, it’s probably a good idea. If you want to share additional demographic information, you can but it’s not mandated.

I was surprised to learn that only about 500 Brentwood residents have signed up for Nixle.

“We would certainly like to increase those numbers substantially,” Capt. Tommy Walsh of the Brentwood Police Department told me Tuesday after the tornado message was posted. “In today’s busy world with the number of electronic devices in use in the city, it is more important than ever for citizens to register. We typically send out messages on road closures and weather alerts like today’s tornado warning.”

Here are a few other things Nixle is used for:

• Fires with traffic control issues on major roads or business areas
• Hazard materials alert - chemical spill, etc.
• Road hazard affecting traffic safety – flooding roads, etc.
• Dangerous crimes which may result in the lockdown of homes and/or businesses

“Registered residents can expect to receive real time information on their smart phone or other mobile device which ultimately will help them avoid serious traffic crashes and stay abreast of weather alerts and other issues that affect Brentwood,” Capt. Walsh added.

So, are you signed up? If not, click here.

Susan Leathers is editor of Brentwood Home Page. Click here to read previous columns. Email her at susan@brentwoodhomepage.com