Hinds County buys tornado sirens - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Hinds County buys tornado sirens

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By David Kenney - bio | email

Jackson MS (WLBT) - On April 4, 2008, a tornado bore down on the Jackson metro area, leaving a path of damage in it's wake. That event revealed many tornado sirens in Hinds County, didn't work.

Now county leaders are trying to change that. Many people remember that storm like it happened yesterday. Without warning a tornado tore through neighborhoods, leaving a path of destruction.

Thankfully no lives were lost, but many said they had no warning the tornado was coming.

Now Hinds County officials want to make sure they have the right equipment in place, to give residents the proper warning that a storm is approaching.  Monday morning Hinds County supervisors voted to purchase 21 new tornado sirens.

The sirens cost $500,000. The money will come from a economic recovery go zone bond. That money will have to be paid back over 20 years.

Currently there are 58 sirens placed strategically around the county.  Many are old and haven't worked in recent years. The new sirens are built to last up to 20 years.

"This will put to rest the question of sirens in Hinds County, which means of the 58 we have, the county will have 58 brand new ones, so we won't have the issue of worrying about whether or not they're going to operate during severe weather," said Hinds County Board President Robert Graham.

Currently the county has sirens they installed last year. Another 20 have already been ordered and are to be delivered soon. It will take six months to get the new sirens installed.

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