Tornado Sirens in Pelahatchie Remain Silent Despite Recent Tornadoes

By Shaun McInnish, Sr., City Beat Writer, Pelahatchie News 

Concerns over public safety have grown in Pelahatchie as several of the town’s tornado sirens remain nonfunctional. For more than two years, residents have voiced their frustration over the issue, which has yet to be addressed. The urgency to resolve this problem has only increased following two tornadoes that struck the area within a month.

On December 28, 2024, an EF1 tornado moved through Pelahatchie as part of a larger outbreak across central Mississippi, causing significant damage to trees and power lines near Lake Road and Highway 80. Just days later, on January 5, 2025, another EF1 tornado, with winds reaching 105 mph, touched down near Shiloh Road at 7:11 p.m. traveling over 11 miles before dissipating near Leesburg Road at 7:28 p.m. Along its path, the storm uprooted trees, damaged chicken houses near Gulde Road, and brought down power lines. In one instance, a freight train struck a fallen tree, leading to a minor injury of the train operator.

Despite these severe weather events, several of the town’s tornado sirens did not activate, leaving many residents unaware of the immediate danger. Reports indicate that only two sirens—one near the Industrial Park/Bakery on Highway 80 and another at Hurdle/Highway 43—are partially operational. Meanwhile, sirens located near Crossroads, Kirby Avenue, Lake Road, and the town’s fire department remain inoperable due to their age and the lack of replacement parts. Rankin County officials have indicated that the cost of replacing the outdated systems is prohibitive and that repairs are no longer feasible. As a result, Pelahatchie is left without a fully reliable warning system at a time of year when extreme weather is becoming increasingly frequent.

Some residents have expressed frustration over the lack of response from county leadership, noting that repeated calls and emails over the past two years have not led to action. Many residents recall that the town once conducted routine siren tests at the beginning of each month, a practice that has since lapsed.

The January 5 tornado further highlighted the risks posed by the malfunctioning sirens. In at least one instance, a local business hesitated to direct employees to safety because no siren had sounded, despite the tornado being on the ground nearby. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but the incident underscored the potential consequences of the system’s failure.

Emergency sirens remain a critical component of public safety, particularly for individuals who may not have immediate access to smartphones, weather radios, or other alert systems. During the January 5 storm, some residents temporarily lost cell service, raising concerns about how they would receive warnings in the absence of functional sirens. While text alerts from the National Weather Service and Rankin County provide an additional layer of protection, many believe that sirens and digital alert systems should complement one another rather than serve as replacements.

Rankin County’s decision not to replace the outdated sirens has drawn criticism from residents who believe that ensuring an effective warning system should be a priority. Some community members have begged other town residents to reach out to Rankin County officials to advocate for improvements.

Those seeking additional ways to receive alerts can sign up for Rankin County’s notification system that provides emergency updates and severe weather warnings. To enroll, residents can visit the Rankin County website at http://www.rankincounty.org, create an account, and sign up for weather alerts that can be delivered via email and text messaging. Other options include NOAA weather radios and smartphone weather apps, both of which provide emergency notifications.

As severe weather becomes more frequent, ensuring a reliable emergency alert system remains a crucial priority for Pelahatchie. While residents continue to advocate for improvements, the hope is that local and county leadership will take action before the next storm puts the system to the test. Until then, it might be wise to keep an eye on the sky—and maybe invest in a good old-fashioned weather radio, just in case.