When natural disasters strike, they don’t wait until you’re ready. Preparedness is key. That’s why you need a reliable and effective emergency warning system in place well before you need it. To maintain this reliability, you must routinely assess and evaluate your mass warning system. In this guide we’ll explore how cities can fund outdoor warning system upgrades by applying for grants.
When it’s time to upgrade or overhaul your warning system, knowing how and when to apply for grants can ensure that you get the funding you need. And when you’re ready, OmniWarn Public Safety can help you design, install, repair, and maintain your system to help you keep your community safe.
Here is a playbook you can use to get funding for your siren upgrades, so you’re prepared for peak storm season.
1. Start with FEMA’s Top Funding Paths
The majority of warning system upgrades in U.S. cities are funded through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs. FEMA divides their grant options into major programs and timing plays a crucial role in how grants are given out and when to apply.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) can be approved with Major Disaster declarations to reduce the impact of future disasters such as tornadoes, floods, or damaging severe storms. It can offset up to 75% of the local expense associated with purchasing, installing, and upgrading outdoor warning systems.
The major drawback of this funding path is that it’s only available after a disaster has occurred. But you can certainly ensure that you’re prepared the next time severe weather strikes.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
An annual FEMA program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding is best suited for larger-scale infrastructure upgrades to reduce risk and increase community resilience. This makes them ideal for funding siren and warning system modernization and upgrades, coverage expansion in growing cities, and multi-channel upgrades. As you can imagine, BRIC grants are highly competitive.
2. Combine Grants with State Pass-Through Funding
While cities can apply for the above FEMA grants, the agency generally awards funding at the state level. So, you must be aware of what’s available from your state and apply for subawards or pass-through funding they offer. To help facilitate that you should:
- Build relationships with your state emergency management agency
- Keep track of state-level Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) timelines
- Ensure you have a fully-formed plan with all necessary planning, zoning, permits, and everything else needed to allow construction to begin as soon as possible so that you can position your project as “shovel-ready”
3. Focus on Multi-Channel Warning Systems
Proposals that focus on upgrading only one component of an outdoor warning system, such as a new siren only, are less likely to receive funding. FEMA and state agencies prioritize resiliency and interoperability in proposed system upgrades. Take a holistic approach to your proposed upgrades, integrating a multi-channel warning system that includes upgrades such as:
- IPAWS integration
- Redundant communication systems
- Cybersecurity hardening (e.g., securing IP networks, cellular links, and activation software against unauthorized access)
- Equitable outreach, i.e., multilingual alerts, ADA alerts, etc.
Pro Tip: Need Help Planning a Multi-Channel Warning System to Fit Your Needs? Contact OmniWarn Today!
4. Your Hazard Mitigation Plan is Key
Most FEMA funding requires cities to have a Hazard Mitigation Plan in place to be considered for funding. If your city doesn’t have one, create one before submitting your grant request. When writing your plan, make sure to include your upgrade project. Alternatively, if your city already has a Hazard Mitigation Plan in place, you can add your project as a plan amendment. This will help you avoid having to wait a full update cycle to submit a new plan.
5. Clear, Concise, and Outcome-Driven
When writing your grant proposal, be as thorough and detailed as possible. Include clear goals and specify extensively how the project will positively impact your community. Focus more on the benefits of the upgrade rather than simply outlining the equipment being replaced.
Proposals that include statistics such as population covered by outdoor warning system upgrades, predicted warning time improvements, and reduction of potential fatalities or injuries if upgrades are implemented, are more likely to be considered and to win grants.
Pro Tip: Protect Your Network for Extra Application Points FEMA grant scoring heavily favors proposals that tackle multiple vulnerabilities at once. Because modern warning systems rely heavily on digital controls, cellular endpoints, and IP networks, explicitly detailing how your upgrades will secure the system against cyber threats can add critical competitive “points” to your overall application score.
6. Be Aware of Timing
The grant process takes time. In general, the FEMA timeline is between six and 12 months. That means needed outdoor warning system upgrades you identify now have the potential to be funded after storm season has passed. Therefore, you should submit your grant proposal as soon as possible, ensure you are aligned with the pass-through funding cycle in your state, and work to lock in funding for next year.
In the meantime, repair and maintain your existing outdoor warning system and employ additional warning options such as temporary or mobile warning system units, to keep your community safe during storm season.
A Winning Grant Strategy to Fund Outdoor Warning System Upgrades
To help you write your grant proposal, here’s a summary of the important components to include:
- Hazard Mitigation Plan alignment
- Multi-channel alert integration
- Identified coverage gaps
- Cybersecurity and system-hardening provisions
- Cost share commitment
- Regional collaboration
Want to dive deeper into official requirements?
Review the official FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program and Policy Guide (Version 2.1). Page 499 of the PDF explicitly outlines the specific eligible criteria and compliance paths for Warning System mitigation projects, serving as a perfect roadmap for your city’s application planning.
When It’s Time to Upgrade, We’re Here To Help!
When you’re ready to start your outdoor warning system upgrades, OmniWarn Public Safety is ready to help. We are a factory-direct Federal Signal partner for Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Louisiana. We provide warning system design, installation, and maintenance services nationwide. Our products allow customers to build comprehensive, multi-channel severe weather warning systems that fit their needs and keep people safe.
Request a free consultation with OmniWarn Public Safety today. Serving public safety agencies across the United States, our team can inspect, test, and optimize your system, helping you stay alert today and alive tomorrow.