LANSING, Mich. – Allegan County’s Salem Township will benefit from the installation of two weather warning sirens made possible by a $27,000 Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The township will provide the required 25 percent match to meet the total project cost of $36,000.

“The installation of early warning systems such as these warning sirens is a wise and effective use of hazard mitigation funds because it can save lives and prevent injuries during future severe weather incidents,” said Capt. Kriste Etue, commander of the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD). 

Allegan County has experienced 22 tornadoes since 1954 that resulted in two deaths and more than 34 injuries.

The sirens, which will be mounted on 50-foot poles with electrical hookup, battery backup and remote activation, will provide early warning of weather emergencies to 90 percent of the township’s 3,500 permanent residents and 18,000 transient residents and guests. 

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is administered by the EMHSD. In cooperation with the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Coordinating Council, early warning systems have been identified as a top priority under the HMGP. 

Since the mid-1990s, the state has consistently allocated 5 percent of available HMGP funds (the maximum allowable by FEMA) to the purchase and installation of early warning systems.  To date, HMGP funds have purchased and installed 80 outdoor warning sirens, more than 1,000 NOAA weather alert monitors for public buildings and four NOAA weather radio transmitters.