taken from The Meridian Star ( http://m.meridianstar.com/TMS/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=5a97Sxol&full=true#display)

Weather alert systems being installed in public buildings

By Brian Livingston / blivingston@themeridianstar.com
Posted:  05/04/2011 6:30 AM

     
Even before last week's deadly tornado that ripped through northern Clarke County killing four people and injuring scores more, local emergency management officials were trying to install weather alert systems throughout Meridian and Lauderdale County.

The preventive measure, it is hoped by local officials, is that schools, hospitals, city and state government buildings, even day cares, will supply immediate alerts on impending severe weather. These alerts could save lives as every minute counts whenever severe weather threatens.

John Baxter, who is the Meridian severe weather coordinator for the National Weather Service, said these units send out audible alarms followed by the National Weather Service information heard by all emergency agencies during heightened weather events.

"They hear the broadcast of what kind of severe weather is coming and instructions on what to do," Baxter said. "Minutes are very important during these high risk times as was the case last week."

Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency Director David Sharp said his agency was able to acquire about 500 weather alert units, both wall mount and desk top models. He said the systems were obtained through a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant.

"The wall mounted models run on a battery that has a five year life and the desk top models run off a power cord with a backup battery capability," Sharp said.

Sharp said hospitals, for example, would get several of the units comprising of both model types. He said wall mounts might be placed in emergency rooms while desk tops would go into campus security or administrative offices. Schools will be another important area for the systems as will large churches, the county court house and so forth.

Baxter said installation of the units in the county schools had just completed the day before the tornado struck Clarke County.
  

"If you think of any place where a large number of the general public is going to be at any given time, like the main post office downtown, that is where these will be located," Baxter pointed out.

Sharp said additionally places such as day care centers will be receiving the alert systems to help them usher their children to safety more quickly. All volunteer fire departments will get the systems and Baxter said sports fields such as soccer and baseball fields will be considered.