TITLE 290 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Emergency Rule
LSA Document #10-499(E)
DIGEST
Temporarily adds provisions concerning severe weather warning sirens. Statutory authority: P.L.89-2008. Effective August 4, 2010.
SECTION 1. (a) The definitions in this SECTION apply throughout this rule [document].
(b) "Activation" means the measure or measures taken by a community to begin operating an alerting and warning system for a specific jurisdiction based upon an actual or perceived threat to life, health, and property.
(c) "ADA" is an acronym meaning Americans with Disabilities Act.
(d) "Alert" means any text, voice, video, or other information provided by an authorized official to provide situational awareness to the public and/or private sector about a potential or ongoing emergency situation that may require actions to protect life, health, and property.
(e) "ANSI" is an acronym meaning American National Standards Institute.
(f) "Audibility" is a term used to describe how readily a noise or sound is heard or perceived.
(g) "Authorized county official" means the individual designated as having authority within a county to activate the county's severe weather warning siren system if there is an actual or perceived threat to life, health, and property.
(h) "County siren coverage plan" means a document generated by Indiana counties participating in the state's severe weather warning siren program detailing the necessary information as prescribed by Indiana Code 36-8-21.5-13, which calls for data related to the county's existing or planned warning sirens. This plan may be formally adopted by the county legislative body and shall project the installation and maintenance required for warning sirens installed in a participating county over the course of a ten (10) year period at the time of its formal adoption.
(i) "County siren coverage report" means a document generated by Indiana counties participating in the state's severe weather warning siren program detailing the necessary information as prescribed by Indiana Code 36-8-21.5-11, which calls for data related to the county's existing or planned warning sirens. The data found in this report shall include such information as areas covered by existing sirens, projected locations for planned sirens, maintenance and testing of existing systems, and identification of persons designated as having authority to activate the county's warning siren systems.
(j) "CPG" is an acronym meaning comprehensive planning guide.
(k) "CSEPP" is an acronym meaning Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. CSEPP is a program administered by the United States Department of the Army that is focused on the containment and destruction of lethal hazardous materials previously used as warfare agents. It is a unique partnership between FEMA and the U.S. Army, given FEMA's long-standing experience in preparing for and dealing with all types of emergencies and the U.S. Army's role as custodian of the U.S. chemical stockpile. Since 1988, FEMA and the U.S. Army have assisted communities surrounding the eight (8) chemical stockpile sites to enhance their abilities to respond to the unlikely event of a chemical agent emergency.
(l) "dBc" is an acronym meaning decibels relative to the carrier.
(m) "Decibel" means a unit used in measuring the relative intensities of sounds or the relative amounts of acoustic or electric power. Because it requires an approximate ten (10) fold increase in power for a sound to register twice as loud to the human ear, a logarithmic scale is useful for comparing sound intensity. Thus, the threshold of human hearing (absolute silence) is assigned the value of zero (0) dB and each increase of ten (10) dB corresponds to a ten (10) fold increase in intensity and a doubling in loudness. The "threshold of pain" for intensity varies from one hundred twenty (120) to one hundred thirty (130) dB among different individuals.
(o) "DOD" is an acronym meaning the United States Department of Defense.
(p) "Emergency" means an unexpected event which places life and/or property in danger and requires an immediate response through the use of available community resources and emergency response procedures.
(q) "Failure rate" is a term which pertains to severe weather warning sirens, meaning the number or percentage of actual failures observed through the testing and activation of warning systems at a given site or location. A high failure rate signifies the potential need for targeted maintenance or replacement of warning systems and equipment.
(r) "FEMA" is an acronym meaning the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(s) "IDHS" is an acronym meaning Indiana department of homeland security.
(t) "Infrastructure agency" means an Indiana political subdivision or an agency responsible for acquiring, operating, maintaining, or testing one (1) or more serve [sic] weather warning sirens in an area.
(u) "Installation" means the setting in place of one (1) or more severe weather warning sirens in a given jurisdiction for the purpose of alerting or warning the public of actual or potential hazardous situations.
(v) "Maximum coverage area" means the fullest extent with which a severe warning siren system is expected to be effective in alerting and warning the public.
(w) "Minimum technical standards" are the minimum standards and specifications of severe weather sirens to notify citizens within the range of the siren of an impending weather emergency.
(x) "Mph" is an acronym meaning miles per hour.
(y) "Notification" means any text, voice, video, or other information provided by an authorized official to provide situational awareness to primarily the first responder and public safety personnel within a community regarding a potential or ongoing emergency situation that may require actions to protect life, health, and property.
(z) "NWS" is an acronym meaning National Weather Service.
(aa) "Permanent dwelling" means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one (1) or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for the sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof intended for occupancy as a residence.
(bb) "Planned siren" means a severe weather warning siren that has a definite location within the county, for which funding has been identified, and for which an approximate date for the siren's installation has been determined.
(cc) "Severe weather warning siren" means a siren that can be activated with a specified range to warn residents of an occurrence or imminent threat of severe weather.
(dd) "Temporary dwelling" means buildings, structures, or portions of land dedicated to recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
(ee) "Testing" means the practice of evaluating a specific resource, capability or function to determine its effectiveness based upon specific criteria or standards.
(ff) "USDHS" is an acronym meaning United States Department of Homeland Security.
(gg) "VAC" is an acronym meaning volts, alternating current.
(hh) "VDC" is an acronym meaning volts, direct current.
(ii) "Wail" means a common audible siren alert tone that oscillates up and down repeatedly from high to low over a period of three (3) minutes.
(jj) "Warning" means a hydrometeorological message issued to provide appropriate information of hazardous and potentially life-threatening weather conditions, which may also include key actions to be taken by the public to prevent loss of life and damage to property.
SECTION 2. Purpose. The state of Indiana is impacted by a number of significant natural and human-caused emergency situations on a frequent basis. The threat of these hazards make establishing a system of warning and alerting the public an essential element in statewide emergency management programs as a means to minimize the impact on human life as well as to lessen damages to both public and private property. The purposes of these rules are to establish:
(1) The minimum technical standards including a minimum range for any siren that is to be acquired and installed in a county under a county's siren coverage plan.
(2) A general description of any storm, weather condition, or emergency, other than a tornado, for which a severe weather warning siren may be activated.
(3) Requirements for any test, activation, or failure rate data that the IDHS may require a county to submit with respect to any siren identified by a county in a:
(A) siren coverage report prepared under this document; or
(B) siren coverage plan prepared under this document, and
(4) Any other information necessary for the IDHS to:
(A) assess the number, location, and condition of existing severe weather warning sirens in each county in Indiana; and
(B) determine the need for additional sirens in order to ensure comprehensive severe weather warning siren coverage for all Indiana residents.
SECTION 3. Scope. This document shall be implemented and maintained by the IDHS and shall comprise:
(1) Minimum technical standards for devices installed and utilized in Indiana counties;
(2) Identification of those storms, weather conditions or other emergencies for which severe weather warning sirens may be activated; and
(3) Requirements for testing, activation and failure rate data collection for severe weather warning sirens identified by any Indiana county in a county siren coverage report or a county siren coverage plan.
SECTION 4.
(a) Applicability. This document does not apply to an Indiana county that has not elected to prepare a siren coverage report under IC 36-8-21.5-11, which is a necessary preliminary step in the county's discretionary decision of whether or not to prepare and to adopt a county siren coverage plan pursuant to IC 36-8-21.5-13. SECTION 11 of this document concerning the required content of a siren coverage report applies only to those Indiana counties that have elected to prepare a siren coverage report under IC 36-8-21.5-11. SECTION 14 of this document concerning the required content of a siren coverage plan applies only to those counties that have elected to prepare a county siren coverage plan under IC 36-8-21.5-13.
(b) Counties that have adopted a county siren coverage plan pursuant to IC 36-8-21.5-13 must follow the standards outlined in this document. However, these standards do not constitute compliance with any applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding accommodations made to those who are hearing impaired. The standards in SECTION 6 of this document outline only the technical specifications and policies regarding the activation of equipment audible to persons who are able to hear warnings and alerts without the aid of specialized equipment or devices. Local jurisdictions shall be responsible for ensuring that other forms and means of communicating warning are made available to populations with special needs and maintained to ensure effective dissemination of emergency information to all Indiana residents. The county siren coverage plan may specify the other forms and means of communicating warnings that are made available to populations with special needs and the required steps by which those other forms and means must be maintained to ensure effective dissemination of emergency information to all persons in the county.
(c) Severe weather warning sirens reported under SECTION 11 of this document shall be compliant with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines found in the Comprehensive Planning Guide (CPG) 1-17, Outdoor Warning Systems Guide, March 1, 19801 and the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) "Methods for the Field Measurements of the Sound Output of Audible Public Warning Devices Installed at Fixed Locations Outdoors" – ANSI S.12.14-1992 (R 2007)2. Both standards provide that sirens should provide alerts at a minimum of one hundred ten (110) dB(C) to one hundred twenty (120) dB(C) of pressure when measured at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the device.
SECTION 5. Limitations. These standards pertain to outdoor severe weather warning siren systems and do not directly consider other forms of alert, warning and notification. It is the position of IDHS and other public safety organizations within the United States that warning sirens, while extremely important, are, in many instances, not the most effective means of protecting the public from actual or potential threats to life and property. To be effective, severe weather warning siren systems should be integrated with other systems that focus on communications, mapping, and frequent integration of new technologies, and best practices. An effective county siren coverage plan should also incorporate one (1) or more alternate methods of notifying citizens of an impending weather emergency.
SECTION 6.
Minimum technical standards for severe weather warning sirens. The following standards and specifications shall be applied to those severe weather warning sirens installed and maintained in Indiana counties that have prepared a county siren coverage report pursuant to IC 36-8-21.5-13:
(1) Siren systems shall be of either electronic or mechanical design.
(2) Siren systems shall be quadrant or omni-directional (90° - 360°) with stationary or rotational speakers capable of providing a full range of alert coverage to a given area.
(3) Siren systems shall be weather resistant and able to operate in a range of environmental conditions and temperatures (-30°C – +60°C).
(4) Siren systems shall be resistant to insects and nesting birds.
(5) Electrical power and back-up systems.
(6) Siren systems shall be powered by standard electrical charge (one hundred twenty (120) VAC), generators, battery power (twenty-four (24) VDC), solar cells, or a combination of these sources to ensure appropriate operation and regular testing.
(7) Power shall be sufficient to provide for continuous, uninterrupted service to activate and control the warning system should conditions warrant.
(8) Battery power for severe weather warning siren systems shall be sufficient such that upon activation, the system can provide for ninety (90) minutes of continuous siren/voice alerting, without recharging.
(9) Severe weather warning siren systems shall be controlled by a combination of radio, telephonic, computerized, or direct access controls to ensure appropriate activation, monitoring and testing.
SECTION 7. (a) Authority to activate. Within the county's siren coverage plan, the county should designate, by position, the primary and secondary county officials with the authority to activate county severe weather warning siren systems for selected areas or for the entire jurisdiction for purposes of monitoring, maintenance, testing, and uniformity of standards and warning policies.
(b) If the authorized county official has made the decision to activate a severe weather warning siren, the initial alerting of the public should take place within two (2) minutes of the time that decision has been made that the public may be in danger. The completion of the initial alert should be within five (5) minutes of that initial decision.
SECTION 8. Duration. The severe weather warning system for an affected county may continue to provide alert and warning to the public at regular intervals if emergency conditions persist or are expected to continue over a prolonged period of time. The continuation of alerts should occur at least every twelve (12) minutes for the first hour and every twenty (20) minutes thereafter, until the danger or threat to the public has dissipated. The plan may specify the number of minutes for alerts within this minimum standard.
SECTION 9. (a) Audibility and installation. Common audible siren alerts may include a wail tone that oscillates up and down repeatedly from high to low over a period of three (3) minutes. Severe weather warning siren systems may also include a voice broadcast capability in addition to the wail, but such broadcast capability shall not replace the wail as the primary tone in alerting the public of impending hazardous conditions. Counties that have systems with other alerts, tones, and voice messaging capabilities must communicate these alerts to senior officials, responders, and the public at large to ensure there is understanding of the types of alerts that may be heard and their corresponding meanings.
(b) For those areas within participating counties that are uninhabited or where there are no permanent or temporary dwellings, counties have the option of not installing or building severe weather warning sirens but instead specifying other warning means and methods to be employed in those specified areas.
(c) Rural areas in participating counties where residential housing density is less than one (1) dwelling per one hundred (100) acres may consider installing severe weather warning sirens for their population. Data collected by the DOD for alert and warning systems for the CSEPP provides that the average ambient background noise level in areas such as this is estimated to be less than thirty (30) dBC at ground level. When installing severe weather warning sirens in these areas, they should provide a sound pressure level of at least forty (40) dBC to be distinguished and heeded by the public. Counties have the option of not installing or building severe weather warning sirens, but instead specifying other warning means and methods to be employed in those specified areas.
(d) Participating Indiana counties with suburban residential areas consisting primarily of single-family homes with a density of less than one (1) dwelling per five (5) acres should consider installing severe weather warning siren systems. These areas may also include agricultural land use or recreation areas used by seasonal populations, but contain no businesses with significant industrial or commercial activity. DOD has determined that the average ambient background noise level in similar areas is estimated to be approximately forty (40) dBC at ground level and the installation of severe weather warning sirens should provide a sound pressure level of at least fifty (50) dBC to be distinguished and heeded by the public. Counties have the option of not installing or building severe weather warning sirens, but instead specifying other warning means and methods to be employed in those specified areas.
(e) Counties that participate in the state's severe weather warning siren program and consist primarily of residential areas of single family homes with a density of less than one (1) dwelling per quarter acre and which have no significant commercial activity should consider installing warning sirens. The average ambient background noise as estimated by DOD is fifty (50) dB(C) at ground level, and installation of warning sirens should provide a sound pressure level of at least sixty (60) dB(C) so as to be distinguished and heeded by the public. Counties have the option of not installing or building severe weather warning sirens but instead specifying other warning means and methods to be employed in those specified areas.
(f) Urban residential areas in participating counties which consist of both single and multifamily housing units that have a density of one (1) dwelling per quarter acre or more, should consider installing severe weather warning siren systems. The average ambient background noise as estimated by DOD in these areas is sixty (60) dB(C) at ground level, and installation of warning sirens should provide a sound pressure level of at least seventy (70) dB(C) so as to be distinguished and heeded by the public.
(g) Participating counties with commercial/industrial areas where the daytime population density is greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) persons per square mile or areas where there are major highways or thoroughfares with estimated vehicle counts of over three hundred (300) per hour in a given one-hour period may consider installing severe weather warning siren systems. The average ambient background noise as estimated by DOD is seventy (70) dB(C) at ground level, and installation of severe weather warning sirens should provide a sound pressure level of at least eighty (80) dB(C) so as to be distinguished by the public.
(h) Severe weather warning siren systems installed in counties participating in the state's severe weather warning siren program shall be affixed to stationary poles of wood, concrete, or metal, at a height of not less than forty (40) feet.
(i) In compliance with FEMA CPG 1-17, severe weather warning sirens that are installed within participating counties shall not produce a sound pressure greater that one hundred twenty-three (123) dB(C) at ground level as sounds of this intensity have demonstrated the potential for hearing damage for those in the immediate area. The county siren coverage plan may specify a maximum sound intensity which is below the maximum standard contained in these rules.
(j) Manufacturers of severe weather warning siren systems generally follow national industry standards and guidelines, which closely correspond to the standards as referenced in this document.
In order to ensure overall safety for the residents of the counties in which severe weather warning sirens are installed, installation should comply with all of manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines since these outline the:
(1) maximum coverage areas to be serviced by the system;
(2) correct usage of the system components; and
(3) recommended actions for both maintenance and regular system testing.
SECTION 10. (a) Conditions for activation of severe weather warning sirens. The following standards and guidelines outline potential conditions under which severe weather warning sirens should be activated in order save lives and protect private and public property. The decision of whether to activate severe weather warning sirens is a local decision, to be made by the officials described in SECTION 7 of this document, in accordance with guidelines and standards contained within this document. This decision making process should be outlined in the county siren coverage plan.
(b) Severe weather warning sirens may be activated in Indiana counties if the National Weather Service has issued a warning where conditions present the potential for destructive winds at or above seventy (70) mph. The county siren coverage plan may specify a greater safety standard within this minimum state safety standard.
(c) Severe weather warning sirens may be activated in Indiana if hail of one and twenty-five hundredths (1.25) inches or above in diameter is imminent. The county siren coverage plan may specify a greater safety standard within this minimum state safety standard.
(d) Severe weather warning sirens may be activated in Indiana if storm spotters, law enforcement, or other locally trained personnel have identified severe weather conditions that are potentially dangerous to the public and immediate life safety actions are required. The county siren coverage plan should specify with greater particularity the conditions that may allow the designated county official to decide to activate one (1) or more severe weather warning sirens.
(e) Other instances where mass alert is required:
(1) Severe weather warning sirens may be activated in Indiana counties if there are perceived or actual threats, as determined by local officials, to such locations as schools, universities, public gatherings, and sports/entertainment venues in which the safety and health of the public may be in jeopardy. The county siren coverage plan may specify a greater safety standard within this minimum state safety standard.
(2) Severe weather warning sirens may be activated in Indiana counties if there is a perceived or actual threat, whether natural, technological, or intentional, to those locations designated as essential or critical infrastructure sites, where the safety and health of the public may be at risk. The county siren coverage plan may specify a greater safety standard within this minimum state safety standard.
(3) Severe weather warning sirens should be activated in Indiana counties if local officials have identified circumstances where mass alert and warning is needed to ensure the public can take the necessary protective measures to reduce or prevent social, physical, psychological, or economic impacts of the emergency in a given jurisdiction. The county siren coverage plan may specify a greater safety standard within this minimum state safety standard.
SECTION 11.
(a) Siren coverage report. The siren coverage report is the first step in the process of a county deciding to prepare a siren coverage plan pursuant to IC 36-8-21.5-13.
(b) A county legislative body may elect to prepare a siren coverage report, at any time. In taking this action, the county legislative body shall act through an affirmative vote during a public meeting that has been held in accordance with the Indiana Open Door Law (IC 5-14-1.5).
(c) As used in this SECTION, the term "infrastructure agency", with respect to an area in a county, means:
(1) a political subdivision; or
(2) an agency responsible for planning for, acquiring, operating, maintaining, or testing one (1) or more severe weather warning sirens in the area.
(d) A siren coverage report must include a description of all existing and planned severe weather warning sirens in the county as of the date of the report.
(e) For each severe weather warning siren identified, the siren coverage report must provide the location of the severe weather warning siren within the county, including an identification of any political subdivision in which the severe weather warning siren is or will be located. The information provided under this clause [sic] must include a map depicting the location of each severe weather warning siren within the county.
(f) The report must contain technical and other specifications for the severe weather warning siren to include:
(1) the manufacturer and model year;
(2) for an existing severe weather warning siren, the date of installation;
(3) for a planned severe weather warning siren, the planned dates for installation and first operation;
(4) the range of the severe weather warning siren, identified in miles or some other appropriate measure of distance;
(5) the number of persons living within the range identified under SECTION 9 of this document, as determined by the most recent federal census block data available;
(6) or an existing severe weather warning siren, siren activation data for the most recent twelve (12) month period, including the date of each activation and whether the severe weather warning siren was activated for testing purposes or for an actual severe weather event.
(g) If an existing severe weather warning siren has been in operation for less than twelve (12) months, the data required by this item must cover all activations occurring since the date the severe weather warning siren first came online.
(h) For an existing severe weather warning siren, the siren's failure rate shall be included in the siren coverage report.
(i) The siren coverage report shall also identify the areas in the county that are not within the range of an existing or a planned severe weather warning siren. For each area identified, the siren coverage report must include the number of persons living in the area, as determined by the most recent federal census block data available.
(j) The siren coverage report must outline any development planned for the area, as determined through consultation with all appropriate planning agencies. The information required by this clause [sic] must include:
(1) the type of development proposed;
(2) the number of new dwelling units or other buildings proposed; and
(3) the status of the proposal, including the status of needed permits or approvals.
(k) The siren coverage report shall contain a recommendation by the county legislative body as to the county's need for any additional severe weather warning sirens. The county legislative body may recommend additional severe weather warning sirens to provide coverage for:
(1) any of the areas identified under SECTION 9 of this document as not within the range of an existing or a planned severe weather warning siren; or
(2) any area identified under SECTION 9 of this document as within the range of an existing severe weather warning siren, if the county legislative body determines that the existing siren does not provide consistent or adequate coverage for the area, based on the existing severe weather warning siren's failure rate. In making a recommendation for additional sirens, the county legislative body shall consult with the IDHS and with each infrastructure agency and planning agency with jurisdiction in an area identified by the county legislative body as needing one (1) or more severe weather warning sirens.
(l) As used in this SECTION, "planning agency", with respect to an area, means a unit that has planning and zoning jurisdiction over all or any part of the area or a plan commission that has planning jurisdiction over all or any part of the area.
SECTION 12. (a) Public notice and comment. Before adopting the siren coverage report, the county legislative body must give notice of and hold at least one (1) public hearing on the report.
(b) The county legislative body must publish, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, a schedule stating the time and place of each hearing. The schedule must also state where the entire report is on file and that it may be examined in its entirety for at least ten (10) days before the hearing.
(c) After considering any comments made at the hearing, the county legislative body shall adopt the report as originally proposed or as modified by the county legislative body after the hearing and submit the report to the IDHS.
SECTION 13.
(a) Submission of county siren coverage report. In accordance with IC 36-8-21.5-12, not later than six (6) months after a county submits a report under IC 36-8-21.5-11, the IDHS shall:
(1) review the siren coverage report; and
(2) make any recommendations to the county that the IDHS determines to be necessary to ensure a comprehensive severe weather warning system exists within that county. The objective of the severe weather warning system will be to provide a timely and adequate warning of severe weather conditions to all residents of the county either by being in range of a working severe weather warning siren or by such alternate means and methods as are provided for by the county.
(b) In accordance with IC 36-8-21.5-10, once a county has prepared a siren coverage report, the county legislative body may request the assistance of the IDHS in the development of a county siren coverage plan. The IDHS shall assist the county in developing a siren coverage plan for the county, once the IDHS determines that the county's siren coverage report is complete.
SECTION 14.
(a) Siren coverage plan. A county's decision to prepare a county siren coverage plan is discretionary. If a county that has completed a siren coverage report decides not to prepare or to adopt a county siren coverage plan, the requirements for such a plan shall not apply to that county. If a county decides to adopt a county siren coverage plan in accordance with IC 36-8-21.5-13, that county's siren coverage plan shall comply with the provisions of this SECTION.
(b) A county's siren coverage plan must contain information concerning any areas in the county that are not within the range of an existing or a planned severe weather warning siren, as identified by the county in its siren coverage report and updated or revised by the county as needed to provide an accurate and current assessment of the county's existing and planned severe weather warning sirens and need for additional severe weather warning sirens.
(c) A county's siren coverage plan must contain information concerning any areas in the county that are within the range of an existing severe weather warning siren if the IDHS has determined that the existing siren does not provide consistent or adequate coverage for the area.
(d) As necessary, the county shall update the information provided in the plan to include any additional existing severe weather warning sirens that the county legislative body has determined do not provide consistent or adequate coverage for an area. The county shall provide to the IDHS, the test, activation, or failure rate data to support its determination.
(e) The county shall provide information to exclude any severe weather warning siren that the IDHS has determined does not provide consistent or adequate coverage for an area. The county shall provide such proof as may be required by the IDHS that the severe weather warning siren has been repaired or replaced.
(f) A county's siren coverage plan must contain any additional or revised information that was not included in the county's siren coverage report and is necessary to provide an accurate and current assessment of the county's existing and planned severe weather warning sirens and need for additional sirens.
(g) In addition to the above requirements, a county's siren coverage plan must also provide an estimate of the nature and location of development that is expected to occur in each area identified under this SECTION during the ten (10) years immediately following the date of the adoption of the siren coverage plan as well as an estimate of the type, location, and cost of the severe weather warning siren or sirens that are necessary to provide complete siren coverage for the areas identified under this SECTION.
SECTION 15. (a) Acquisition, installation, and maintenance of sirens. The county siren coverage plan must indicate the proposed timing and sequencing of the acquisition, installation, the periodic testing and maintenance of each severe weather warning siren.
(b) The county siren coverage plan must identify the infrastructure agency that is responsible for making a good faith effort to acquire and provide for the acquisition, installation, the periodic testing and maintenance of each severe weather warning siren.
(c) The county siren coverage plan must contain a general description of the sources and amounts of money used to pay for any severe weather warning sirens installed in the county during the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the plan.
(d) For each area in which the county siren coverage plan provides for the acquisition, installation, the periodic testing and maintenance of a severe weather warning siren, the plan must:
(1) subject to budgetary constraints, provide for the good faith effort to complete the acquisition, installation, periodic testing and maintenance within the ten (10) years immediately following the date of the plan's adoption; and
(2) identify the revenue sources and estimate the amount of the revenue sources that the county intends to use to acquire, install, periodically test and maintain the severe weather warning sirens identified under SECTION 11 of this document.
(e) In preparing, or causing to be prepared, the county siren coverage plan, the county will consult with the IDHS or a qualified engineer licensed to perform engineering services in Indiana as well as consult with each infrastructure agency and planning agency with jurisdiction in any area within the county.
SECTION 16. (a) Adoption of siren coverage plan. Before adopting the siren coverage plan prepared under this document, the county legislative body must give notice of and hold at least one (1) public hearing on the plan.
(b) The county legislative body must publish, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, a schedule stating the time and place of each hearing. The schedule must also state where the entire plan is on file and that it may be examined in its entirety for at least ten (10) days before the hearing.
(c) After considering any comments made at the hearing, the county legislative body shall adopt the plan as originally proposed or as modified by the county legislative body after the hearing. The plan must then be submitted to the IDHS.
(d) A siren coverage plan adopted under this SECTION takes effect on January 1 after its adoption. Each unit having planning and zoning jurisdiction in an area described in SECTION 14 of this document shall incorporate the siren coverage plan as part of the unit's comprehensive plan and capital improvement plan, as appropriate.
(e) In accordance with IC 36-8-21.5-14, the IDHS shall assist a county that adopts a siren coverage plan in its implementation of the plan and will provide advice and guidance to counties of any federal grant opportunities that may exist or come into existence to enable the county to implement its plan. If an available federal grant is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the IDHS will assist the county making a request to obtain such grant funding.
SECTION 17. This document expires on July 1, 2012.
Filed with Publisher: August 4, 2010, 8:17 a.m.
Posted: 08/11/2010 by Legislative Services Agency
DIN: 20100811-IR-290100499ERA
Composed: May 04,2024 4:12:21PM EDT
A
PDF version of this document.
