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Adams County weighs replacing aging outdoor warning sirens; possible FEMA mitigation grants discussed
Summary
County officials discussed replacing 18 outdoor warning sirens (14 county, 4 city) that use obsolete low-band radios; officials said new sirens cost roughly $40,000–$45,000 each and that mitigation grants are competitive; the board asked staff to seek multiple quotes and discuss a cost‑share with the city during upcoming budget development.
Adams County officials briefed supervisors on the condition of the county’s outdoor warning sirens and options to modernize the system.
An emergency-management presenter told the board the vendor that originally installed the sirens (Blue Valley) no longer supports the low‑band radio infrastructure those sirens use. He said the county can buy new sirens with modern control software or update existing controllers; a ballpark figure cited in the meeting for a new siren was about $40,000–$45,000 each. The county has 14 sirens and the city has four within county limits, the presenter said.
The presenter noted mitigation grant opportunities through FEMA and state programs but said those grants typically fund new sirens only after a federal disaster declaration or through competitive mitigation rounds. “It’s competitive,” he told the board. Supervisors asked staff to obtain two quotes, to explore local manufacturers (including a Mississippi firm that makes sirens), and to raise the topic with the city to see whether a joint purchase or cost‑share would be possible during budget planning.
Why it matters: Outdoor warning sirens are one of several public warning channels for severe weather and civil emergencies. The presenter emphasized that aging low‑band radios used to control sirens are near obsolescence and that remote automation would improve the county’s ability to sound warnings without manual activation.
What’s next: Staff will solicit at least two quotes for upgrading or replacing sirens, explore potential grant options, and brief the board during upcoming budget discussions about phased replacement or joint approaches with the city.
