MT. VERNON — The city of Mt. Vernon is preparing for the upcoming spring storm season by upgrading the city’s tornado sirens. The new sirens are omni-directional and will not have to rotate to get the warning out.

Mt. Vernon Fire Chief Kevin Sargent says the sirens will better cover the city in an emergency.

Sargent says the city sounds the sirens for a period of 5 minutes for a severe thunderstorm warning that could produce damaging winds, while if a tornado warning is issued, the sirens will stay on until the warning is expired.