WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Three On Your Side Investigates: Warning Sirens Fail During Test

Three On Your Side Investigates: Warning Sirens Fail During Test

By: Marsha Thompson
      marsha@wlbt.net

November is the second most dangerous month for tornados. The National Weather Service says 2005 was a record- breaker, 99 twisters tore through Mississippi.  We wanted to find out how safe central Mississippi families are if a tornado outbreak occurs this month. Our investigation turned up scores of tri-county residents are in "danger zones."

Rankin County has the newest most advanced warning system. EOC officials say 34 sirens are located in the morepopulated areas.   But an estimated 35-thousand people can not hear them in outlying areas. Madison County officials suggest almost 30-thousand may be out of reach. Scores more in rural Hinds County can't rely on the warning sirens in the event tornado warnings are issued.

The first day of every month, tornado warning sirens are tested at precisely high noon. We set out to test the system November 1st.  At 12:08 p.m. the sirens still had not sounded.  Hinds County Emergency Operations Director Larry Fisher is on the roof of the building testing the siren designed to protect people in downtown Jackson.  "It won't work, I have to find out what went wrong." "None of our sirens worked anywhere in the city or the county."

A total malfunction. Emergency officials were unaware of problems. Jackson's main communications tower had been hit by lighting. Jackson's sirens date back to 1952. Our investigation discovered the network is antiquated....barely operational.  Fisher told us, "It takes a long time to replace 38 sirens."  

So citizens are urged to be responsible, prepared. We asked , why isn't Hinds County? The answer, money. According to the EOC Director"We have to rob Peter to pay Paul." Supervisors would have to shell out some 600-thousand for critical upgrades. Fisher said, "As we put up a   new siren we take the old siren down for parts." We asked; "You're basically cannibalizing these sirens to keep others running?  His reply, "That's very true"

A network of tornado sirens is set up in the tri-county area. Sirens spared lives last April when an F-3 twister mangled the Monterey community in Rankin County." But for tens of thousands of people the only advance warning of a killer storm is the sound of 150-200 mph winds bearing down on them."  Hinds county has gapping dead zones, rural areas where they are now sirens. Officials say don't count on the tornado warning system have a backup.  Chad Entremont with the National Weather Services told WLBT News,  "What we try to promote is NOAA Weather radio."  Weather radio's are known to save lives.  They sell for approximately $30 to $70 and sound an alarm whenever seere weather isapproaching.  The radios broadcast severe weather watches and warnings directly from the Nationa Weather Service. They are battery powered as well.

But officials say,  the reality is, less than 10-15% of people own weather radios. Two neighbors we  interviewed in a Northwest Jackson subdivision said they own them.  With no weather radio they rely on a tornado siren right up the street. They were shocked by our findings. " The siren doesn't not just work..it's gone" "What it's gone?" The siren once topped a pole next to Dawson Elementary.  The neighborhood and school can't rely on the blaring warning in the event of a tornado.  We checked to see if Dawson had a back-up and was storm ready. As required by law the school had two weather radios. Our prepardness investigation turned up a shocking finding. "It doesn't seem to be working.  There was only static. I turned on another one the battery needs to be replaced." Both weather radio's appear to malfunction. One was on the wrong frequency.  

Two tornado warning systems, one supposed to back up the other.  Two apparent failures.

 Fortunately, November skies were blue not black and "this was only a test."

We have learned Hinds County's warning system is now operating on reduced power due to the lighting hit. Sirens covering Edwards, Utica and Learned may not work when they are need the most.