(TNS) - There’s nothing like a dramatic chorus of sirens sounding around a city to announce looming disasters.

But Guilford County doesn’t have a siren system that could have warned people before a tornado struck east Greensboro on April 15.

And the county’s emergency management director says that’s not a bad thing — texts and emails are much more likely to break through the distractions and alert people that something wicked is headed this way.

“Sirens can be loud if you’re underneath them,” said Don Campbell, Guilford County Emergency Management director. “They’re really not designed to warn you if you’re inside a building.”

Other counties across the state also are veering away from sirens to warn of emergencies.

Houses have never been more energy efficient, and quiet, inside, Campbell said. People are a lot less likely to hear a siren if they’re secure inside their homes or cars but vulnerable nonetheless.

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