Stanton County Emergency Management Announces Completion of Two New Outdoor Warning Sirens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 08-26-2025
Contact: Stanton County Emergency Management Agency
Phone: 402-439-2211
Email: [email protected] 

Stanton County Emergency Management Announces Completion of Two New Outdoor Warning Sirens

Stanton County, Nebraska — The Stanton County Emergency Management Agency is proud to announce the installation and completion of two new outdoor warning sirens, one located at Maskenthine Lake and the other at Willer’s Cove. These sirens will enhance public safety by providing reliable alerts during severe weather and emergency situations.

This project has been in development since May of 2022 and was funded through a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The total project cost was $70,109.10, with 75% reimbursed by FEMA and 25% covered locally through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In addition, JP Electric and the Stanton County Public Power District both provided in-kind donations and support, helping bring the project to completion.

In recent years, through community feedback and lessons learned after the 2014 Pilger Tornadoes, Stanton County identified actionable items to improve preparedness and notification systems. Maskenthine Lake: This location posed unique challenges due to limited cell phone reception and unreliable NOAA Weather Radio service. Campers, hikers, and boaters often could not receive timely warnings, and have difficulty receiving weather radio broadcasts. This concern prompted Stanton County Emergency Management to pursue the addition of an outdoor warning siren near the boat ramp. The siren will ensure that guests recreating at the lake can be notified to seek shelter in the event of a dangerous storm approaching. Willer’s Cove: The 2014 Pilger Tornadoes also threatened residents at Willer’s Cove, where many had little to no effective communications about the approaching storms. With Willer’s Cove continuing to expand and the Red Fox Recreational Area to the east, this site became an ideal location for additional notification coverage. To further strengthen the system, the Maskenthine Lake siren is programmed to activate with the City of Stanton’s sirens, while the Willer’s Cove siren is tied into the Village of Pilger’s siren system, ensuring coordinated warnings for both communities and recreational areas.

Before construction could begin, Stanton County Emergency Management worked closely with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address several requirements, including:
• Floodplain regulations and restrictions
• Environmental and habitat studies
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife surveys for five species
• Utility agreements with property owners
In addition, the project faced a price increase from Federal Signal during the approval process, which required a budget amendment. Both NEMA and FEMA understood the challenges and approved the necessary adjustments.

This project would not have been possible without the cooperation and support of many partners, including:
• Stanton County Commissioners
• Stanton County Clerk
• Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District
• Tyler Warren, Maskenthine Lake Superintendent
• Mark and Christina Patefield at Willer’s Cove
• Stanton County Public Power District
• Jeff Paus owner of  JP Electric
• Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Also, the support and feedback from our stakeholders, residents, and visitors to both of these locations, who were overwhelmingly supportive and in favor of this project! 

“These sirens represent a major step forward in strengthening our community’s resilience and preparedness for disasters, especially when it comes to dangerous weather,” said Mike Frohberg, Stanton County Emergency Management Director. “Thanks to the persistence of our partners and the commitment of local resources, Stanton County residents and visitors at Maskenthine Lake and Willer’s Cove will have enhanced notifications and protections during severe weather events.”
The addition of these sirens underscores Stanton County’s ongoing commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness, ensuring timely alerts for residents and visitors alike.