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Warrick County EMA reports grants, sirens, weather stations and stop-the-bleed rollout
Summary
EMA director Matt Gabel told the county he secured nearly $193,000 in Homeland Security grants in 2025, deployed 732 NOAA weather radios and 920 stop-the-bleed kits to schools, added five new sirens and is installing weather stations and flood sensors to provide live data to first responders.
Matt Gabel, director of Warrick County Emergency Management, briefed commissioners on 2025 achievements and 2026 priorities, saying his office secured $192,827.63 in Homeland Security grant funds in 2025, bringing the total to $375,655.26 since he began in 2024.
Gabel said EMA distributed 732 NOAA weather radios to county residents who proved local residency, hosted a weather spotter class that drew 111 participants from the region, and conducted a full-scale hazmat exercise with more than 70 professionals from multiple agencies.
In 2025 EMA placed five new weather sirens at Elberfeld, Friedman Park, Baker Chapel, Degonia Springs and near Tecumseh High School, and procured a disaster response trailer intended to support mass-casualty and other major events. Gabel said the office assembled 920 stop-the-bleed kits and arranged training for school staff and first responders.
Looking ahead, Gabel described live-weather station installations (Boonville operational, Newburgh and Elberfeld planned), flood sensors en route, and plans to provide live sensor data to police, fire and public works to speed road-closure decisions. He said the EMA will pursue state and federal grant opportunities to fund these systems and is exploring smaller township disaster-storage hubs and a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program.
Commissioners thanked Gabel for the report; no formal vote was required. Gabel noted routine FEMA and state certification work continues and that the office returned more than $136,116.99 in reimbursements to county departments after disasters since 2024.
