With the death toll continuing to rise—at least 316 confirmed deaths as of Friday afternoon—and the devastating damage following Wednesday’s tornado outbreak, it gives us pause to wonder what would have happened if those powerful storms had made their way farther south.

Wednesday’s outbreak will make 2011 one of the top three years for tornado deaths in the United States since 1950.

So now’s the time to take personal inventory on how you would receive weather warnings and how you would react if such a warning sounded.

Now is also the time for our community leaders to take inventory in its emergency warning systems. We have a good lightning detection system at the Bill Reynolds ballfield complex, which is extremely valuable in it helping saving lives.

But what about tornados?

Is there an effective warning system to sound in Bainbridge, Attapulgus, Climax or Brinson should a tornado be spotted—whether by visual means or by doppler radar?

And with hurricane season just a little more than a month away, tornados are what are often spawned from them, so a warning system could be worth it.

The question begs itself, what does it costs to invest in community tornado sirens?

And at what costs would it be if we don’t explore investing in good warning systems?