NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The expansion of Metro Nashville's Tornado Warning Siren System is well underway.
On Thursday, workers installed another siren at Lakeview Design Center on Rural Hill Road in the Priest Lake area of south Nashville.
"We're installing one of the 20 new sirens for tornado warnings," said Mayor Karl Dean. "And so we're going from 73 sirens in Davidson County up to 93."
Mayor Dean was among the small crowd that gathered to view the siren installation.
Sirens throughout the city are considered almost a last line of defense in severe weather, but still crucial to public safety. Used in conjunction with weather radios and local media coverage, the outdoor warning system alerts people outdoors to find a safe place.
In addition to increasing the number of sirens, the sound of all sirens will change from electronic tones to a mechanically-generated tone. The sound is similar to an air-raid warning. The new tones will be easier to hear and will travel farther.
"The idea is that will cause less confusion and will be easier for people to know what's happening when they hear it," Mayor Dean said.
The tone from the Priest Lake area siren will extend from Nashboro Village and Murfreesboro-Bell Road areas to YMCA's Camp Widjiwagan and Percy Priest Lake recreational areas.
The area was chosen as the site for a new siren, in part, based on census information showing dense population.
"The entire community is very excited to have these sirens," said Karen Johnson. "I pushed very hard as a council lady for this area, and it's simply because the residents out here were heavily effected."
Johnson is referring to the tornados that left a path of destruction in February 2011. Several homes and churches were ripped apart throughout the Priest Lake area.
"Money well spent and I've gotten a lot of feedback from residents just elated and excited," Johnson said.
The $2 million funding comes from a capital bond program approved in 2012.
All 20 new sirens will be installed by the end of the week. Upgrades on the 73 old sirens will begin shortly after.
To learn more about the sirens and locations, visit the Metro Nashville Davidson County Web site.
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