Just days after the three-year anniversary of a tornado that devastated Fultondale, the city is standing ready for severe storms predicted for tonight.

Weather experts are expecting strong storms with 100-percent chance of rain hitting the north Jefferson County area between 7 and 9 p.m. today.

Fultondale Police Chief Byron Pigg said today that the police and fire departments have been preparing for the storms since Friday; both departments have enacted their emergency plans.

“All of our vehicles are topped off. They are dispersed to keep from having all of our eggs in one basket if we have damage,” Pigg said.

He said all traffic lights are wired to generators in case of power outages; all generators are fueled and ready to go.

Pigg added that extra police officers will staff the police department until the storm is over tomorrow.

In April 2011, a tornado tore through Fultondale, destroying dozens of houses and businesses. Mayor Jim Lowery says it is a miracle that no lives were lost.

The city took note in that disaster, however, and is taking no chances with future storms.

“We’re as prepared as we can be,” Lowery said today. “When you’ve been through one of these before, you never want to go through it again.”

Fultondale has no real storm shelters, but the city has received federal grants to build two underground storm shelters — one near the high school and one near Fire Station No. 2 west of Interstate 65.

In the meantime, cots are stored at city hall and there’s very limited temporary accommodations at Fire Station No. 2 in case of emergency.

Elsewhere, the Gardendale Civic Center will also be open for anyone who needs shelter tonight.

“This is mainly for people in mobile homes, or houses that aren’t all that sturdy,” Civic Center Director Keith Mosley said. “We aren’t designed to be tornado-resistant, but it’s a place for people to be safer than they might otherwise be.”

Mosley said the center has canned other non-perishable food left over from the Jan. 28 snowstorm, and will also have cots.

The city of Warrior had hoped to have its new storm shelter in place next to the new regional library, but changes in plans for the structure have delayed the delivery.

“Until then, we have room for people at the police station,” Mayor Johnny Ragland said. “It’s pretty much a bunker. It can hold 75 to 100 people.”

The police station is located in the basement of City Hall.

Robert Carter contributed to this report.