RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Supervisors announced all of the outdoor weather sirens throughout unincorporated Rankin County have been upgraded.

The $1 million upgrades provide improved and enhanced audible warning of inclement weather. Officials said the new system includes improved connectivity to official weather monitoring systems, as well as the ability to focus warnings along identified storm tracks.

“This updated system has been planned for quite some time and has been a high priority for the Board of Supervisors,” stated Sid Scarborough, Board President. “Public safety is one of our most important priorities in Rankin County. Our citizens living in rural Rankin County rely on our outdoor weather warning system to provide that critical alert when weather threatens. The Board of Supervisors heard from our constituents and we have acted to address their concerns.”

“I could not be more pleased with this upgraded system. Rankin County’s outdoor weather warning system has been modernized substantially. Citizens in rural Rankin County who may be
outdoors when severe weather threatens will have a much greater chance to hear an outdoor warning with this new system and respond by seeking shelter immediately,” said Brian Grantham, director of Rankin County Emergency Operations Center.

Citizens are still encouraged to use multiple weather warnings, including local broadcast media, cell phone emergency alerts or a weather radio.