In the event of disasters occurring to warn the population, a siren warning system (hereinafter referred to as “the STS”) shall be used. This is a network of electromechanical sirens, in which most of the electric sirens have been operating for more than 40 years and are not guaranteed power supply when the inlet voltage is lost, so the system becomes inactive in case of power failure. The system does not indicate and control the condition and failure of sirens and their control devices. The equipment is worn, often perishable, there are no spare parts to restore it, and therefore the system cannot be guaranteed reliable operation. As PSS sirens are mainly installed in municipal centres, they do not reach residential areas with an audible warning signal in the event of flooding. The aim of this project is to improve the alertness of residents living in flood zones. The project activity that will help to solve the existing problem and achieve the project’s objective is the implementation of the GHS. As part of this activity, 26 new electronic sirens and their control panels will be purchased, which will be installed in 14 municipalities (Ukmergė district of Kaunas m. and r., Birštonas, Jonava district, Kaišiadorys district, Kėdainiai district of Klaipeda m. and district, Palanga, Šilutė district, Panevėžys district, Jurbarkas district, Pagėgiai), and their management will be centralised, i.e. they will be managed both from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (hereinafter ‘the Department’) and from the municipalities. An additional 20 mobile sirens are also purchased, which, according to the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Nemunas, Lielupe, Venta and Daugava River Basin Districts (updated on 26 May 2017) will be located in areas with the highest population density and the lowest efficiency of the alert system. 15 additional workplaces for the users of the siren system are also installed in the municipal administrations of the target area of the Project and the State Emergency Operations Centre is provided with the necessary video and audio equipment.
