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Town to begin registration for 900 in‑home emergency siren units; additional grant could expand to 3,000
Summary
Town staff announced preregistration for in‑home emergency siren units that mirror outdoor sirens and include visual alerts. The first 100 units are ready and 900 are funded; staff said an additional grant could fund up to 3,000 more.
Town staff announced that preregistration opens imminently for in‑home emergency warning units designed to mirror outdoor sirens and provide visual alerts for people who are hard of hearing.
Brian Solecki, project manager in the town’s recovery and economic development department, told the council the town has funding to supply 900 units on a first‑come, first‑served basis; the first 100 units were ready for delivery the day of the meeting and staff expected about 300 units to be available each week for the next few weeks. Solecki said the unit contains a 72‑hour battery so residents could unplug and take it while evacuating.
Solecki said the town is working through the FEMA grant that funds the devices and that an additional grant under consideration could provide up to 3,000 more units. "We are gonna, be announcing today or probably tomorrow, that the registration for those units is open," Solecki said. The preregistration form will ask for name, address, APN (optional) and whether the registrant has a diagnosed hearing impairment; the town said it may prioritize people with hearing impairments if demand outstrips supply for the initial 900 units.
Staff said units would be distributed via a simple ordering system; the town will publicize the preregistration through social media, email and a press release. About 100 specialized units with visual components exist for people with severe hearing impairment; project staff said in practice the units' price point was similar and all included the visual feature.
Council members asked about qualification criteria for renters (staff said they would ask for owner confirmation) and about whether the devices require internet (they do not; they receive the signal directly from the town towers). Solecki also noted the grant requires the device remain associated with the property's APN.
Why it matters: the devices are intended to improve alerting for residents who cannot reliably hear outdoor sirens (indoors, in heavy traffic, or with hearing loss) and could make evacuation notices more accessible.
