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Commissioners authorize approach to council for siren funding; emphasize phone alerts and radios
Summary
LaPorte County commissioners approved asking the county council for additional appropriation to address aging outdoor warning sirens; discussion emphasized that sirens are intended for outdoor warning, that replacement of all units could cost millions, and that phone alerts and weather radios are important complements.
The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners on June 17 authorized staff to approach the county council to request funding for outdoor warning siren replacement after Emergency Management raised concerns about aging equipment and recent storm damage.
Commissioners discussed the purpose and limits of outdoor sirens (designed for outdoor warning rather than indoor audibility), noted that a recently repaired siren was damaged by lightning during a storm and that replacing the county’s siren network could cost several million dollars. Commissioners emphasized complementary alerting options — enabling residents to use phone alerts (the Rave system) and distributing weather radios — as practical near‑term measures.
The board approved permission for EMA to pursue council funding and encouraged staff to pursue grants and other funding sources where available. Commissioners also discussed education for the public about what sirens are intended to accomplish and the importance of having phone alerts enabled.
Next steps: EMA staff will pursue grant opportunities and present an appropriation request to the council; commissioners asked staff to explore distributing weather radios and to update public guidance on county alerting methods.
