After years of a virtually nonexistent weather warning systemfor this community, the wheels could be turning to change thatunfortunate and potentially deadly situation.

Brookhaven aldermen recently held a work session to explore optionsfor a weather warning system for the city. Brookhaven officials areexpected to appear at Monday’s board of supervisors meeting todiscuss county involvement in such a plan.

An informal and unscientific poll conducted this week found that amajority of respondents favored county cooperation with the city ona warning plan. In The DAILY LEADER online poll, 64 percentsupported the joint venture and 11 percent disagreed, while 10percent thought more study was needed and 16 percent thoughtweather alert money should be spent elsewhere.

National Weather Service alerts, media efforts and other noticingdevices have provided local residents with some degree of weatherwarnings in the past. But the county’s only siren has beeninoperable for a long time and other ideas like text messaging havenot been pursued – until now.

When it comes to weather, advanced warnings are key in efforts toprotect lives and property. City and county officials appear to betaking the first steps toward provided that needed safetymeasure.