EMA outlines plan to inspect and upgrade aging tornado sirens across county
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Vermillion County EMA told the council the county's 27 existing sirens are aging and several do not function; EMA proposed inspections, repairing or replacing units, and installing three additional sirens to close coverage gaps, and recommended pursuing SHSP grant funding and bids.
Vermillion County's emergency management official presented a countywide review of tornado siren coverage and urged the council to support a multi‑stage inspection and replacement program.
EMA staff reported the county has 27 sirens, many original VX/VXI units installed decades ago; several units are nonfunctional or poorly sited, leaving north‑end gaps in coverage. The EMA representative said he "was hoping to try to get 3 more installed" to improve coverage and recommended a full inspection and a competitive procurement approach. He said new installations and comprehensive repairs would likely require bids and that existing solar panels and batteries on some units have failed or are undersized in shaded locations.
Potential funding avenues discussed included the SHSP anti‑terrorism grant (EMA estimated an upper threshold around $115,000), transfers in the county budget, phased procurement, and possible town or city contributions for localized units. One vendor offered to inspect all sirens for approximately $2,700 as a diagnostic step.
No appropriation was approved at the meeting; the council asked EMA to seek bids, pursue applicable grants and coordinate with the commissioners on any multi‑part procurement or financing plan.