NATCHEZ — Washington residents are now under the protection of Adams County’s growing network of tornado sirens.

Wednesday afternoon Entergy workers hooked up the newest siren meant to alert residents to potential tornadic activity.

And Wednesday’s installation was years in the making.

Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell said it was four years ago when the Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate enough money to install one siren in the county for each of the upcoming four years.

“It was something that we felt was important to do for the county’s residents,” Grennell said.

But in 2008 when former Adams County Civil Defense Director George Souderes left office and current director Stan Owens took over, no siren was installed, Grennell said.

“We didn’t put one up that year,” Grennell said. “But now we’re on track and it’s done.”

Sirens have been previously installed in the Morgantown and Liberty Road areas.

Owens said between the siren system and the new CodeRed Weather Warning, an automated calling system for dangerous weather, residents are better protected.

“They’re pretty well covered now,” Owens said. “They have the sirens outside and they can sign up for CodeRed.”

And while the sirens are expensive, approximately $23,000 each, Owens is exploring grant options that could provide funding for several more sirens in the future.

“We want to have as many as we can to cover the county,” Owens said.