To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to issue a report on the effectiveness of local outdoor siren systems, and for other purposes.

Legislation Details

The legislation directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on local outdoor siren systems.
The study aims to assess the effectiveness of these systems in disseminating alerts during weather-related emergencies.
It seeks to help communities improve their emergency response policies and public safety measures.
The study will include a review of a representative sample of states, counties, and municipalities, involving emergency managers, local officials, and community groups.
Key evaluation areas include:
- Effectiveness of siren systems in alert dissemination.
- Interaction with other public alert systems.
- Age and condition of the siren infrastructure.
- Financial capability of local entities to replace outdated systems.
- Efficacy of emergency management efforts to enhance system precision.
- Automatic activation of systems upon National Weather Service warnings.
- Connection to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
- Impact of varying activation standards across the U.S.
- Cybersecurity protections for the siren systems.
- Potential improvements to the systems and procedures.
A report on the findings must be submitted within 18 months of the legislation’s enactment to relevant congressional committees.
The term “State” encompasses all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.