Discussions about the tornado warning system in Drew County that have taken place for several months with Drew County Office of Emergency Management Director Jessie Griffin writing a letter which was published in the Advance-Monticellonian newspaper.

In the letter, Griffin said there are 27 warning sirens in the county with eight in Monticello, one in Winchester, one in Wilmar and one at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The remaining 16 are at various locations in the county and maintenance costs for all the sirens has averaged over $15,000 per year for the past three years.

According to the letter, “it is dangerous to depend on the sirens because they may fail, cannot be heard because of noise or one being in the house.”

Griffin said his office watches the weather channels like county residents do and said he had discussions with Todd Yakoubian of Channel 7 who recommended households invest in a NOAA weather radio which Griffin said range in price from $15 up. Free weather apps are also available from all the Little Rock television stations.

Weather radios were suggested because they work off batteries.