Students seek storm sirens
Published 6:38 pm Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By Staff
By Lisa Tindell
news editor
If the dream of a committee of high school students comes true, Brewton and East Brewton could be equipped with severe weather sirens.
Committee Representative Spinks Megginson addressed the Brewton City Council Tuesday armed with research showing the need for such devices in the area.
Installing a severe weather siren system in the city would be the fourth step in meeting citywide criteria for becoming a “Storm Ready” community, Megginson said.
Megginson said he became aware of the Storm Ready program while involved in weather coverage for WEBJ-AM where he has been employed for several years.
Megginson said the urging of his boss, Dennis Dunaway, led him to form a committee of students to research the program.
The committee for the Storm Ready program for Brewton and East Brewton is made up of eight members, Megginson said.
The Storm Ready program was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and maps our steps communities must take to be designated for the program, Megginson said.
Megginson said he has researched costs in securing weather sirens for Brewton and East Brewton.
Megginson urged the council to create a council committee to work with the committee of students already in place.
Megginson said donations would be solicited as well as searching out grants available for such programs from the Department of Homeland Security.
Councilman Dennis Dunaway agreed the sirens would be an asset to the community and suggested the council move forward with the committee to continue to investigate the possibility.