Storm warnings

Cape Girardeau has come a long way regarding tornado-warning sirens.

For years, city officials said it would be too expensive to have an effective siren system.

But siren technology has changed dramatically, as demonstrated by the sirens installed on the Southeast Missouri State University campus a few years ago that not only emit an ear-piercing warning tone, but also allow officials to give information that can be heard for long distances.

To overcome the cost issue, Cape Girardeau put together a siren plan a couple of years ago and then asked for donations -- from private donors, civic organizations, businesses -- to pay the approximately $19,000 each siren costs.

Since then four of the city sirens have been installed.

The city is targeting areas that, at times, are heavily populated but don't have access to TV and radio warnings -- places such as parks, shopping areas and schools.

The next areas set to get sirens are the city's two largest high schools, Central High School and Notre Dame Regional High School.

For that to happen, however, more donations are needed. This is a worthwhile effort to provide a warning system that could save lives.

There are still many Cape Girardeans who can remember the killer tornado of a few decades ago. Having advance warning if another storm of that magnitude roared through the city could make a significant difference in the loss of lives and human suffering.

Jackson, which was hit hard by a tornado in 2003, acted swiftly to install eight warning sirens, which went into use last May. In addition to the sirens, Weather Service radio alerts have improved. The cable-TV system in Cape Girardeau and Jackson now provides alerts whenever watches and warnings are issued. Local TV stations use radar to show viewers where storms are forming and where they are headed.

All of these warning systems make us safer. Completing the Cape Girardeau siren system would fill a gap that could be crucial when the next big storm system moves through.