Rankin County, Mississippi, is set to implement a new weather warning system to better alert residents of severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes and flooding. The county will replace its decades-old alert system with modern sirens designed to provide enhanced sound coverage and reliability.
Local resident Celeste Hall, who lives in the Bridge Point area, expressed her approval of the upgrade. “I hear the sirens before any phone alerts about a nearby tornado,” Hall noted, emphasizing the necessity of the system. She, along with her sister Selah, frequently runs past one of the current weather warning sirens on Fanning Landing Circle.
The move comes after sirens were activated two weeks ago when an EF-1 tornado was detected north of Pelahatchie. Rankin County Emergency Operations Director Brian Grantham stated that the existing sirens, some of which date back to the late 1990s, would be replaced. The Rankin County Board of Supervisors has approved the investment in a new system featuring updated technology.
The new Sentry Sirens will be maintenance-free and emit sound in a continuous 360-degree pattern, unlike the current rotating models. “If you’re on the opposite side of the rotation, the sound isn’t as loud,” Grantham explained, highlighting the advantage of the new system.
The upgrade, costing $1.5 million, will involve the removal of 40 aging sirens and is scheduled to begin this summer. Installation is expected to take 16 weeks, weather permitting.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for “Regroup” to receive mass information texts. More details can be found on the Rankin County website at www.rankincounty.org.
