Several municipalities in Latvia are requesting permission to purchase alarm sirens with their own funds and connect them to the state alert system. The current rules do not allow this, although in many settlements alarm signals are practically unavailable.
In Latvia, an increasing number of municipalities are demanding changes to the rules so that they can independently purchase alarm sirens for the early warning system. Currently, it is impossible to do this without state approval, even if local authorities are willing to fully cover the cost of the equipment themselves.
One of the most active initiators has been the Ogre region. They point out that the existing coverage system is clearly insufficient for large areas with numerous parishes and small settlements.
According to Janis Eglitis, head of the strategic planning department of the region, there are currently only four sirens installed in the Ogre region, although the municipality includes four cities and 16 parishes.
In some places, the alarm signal simply will not be heard. For example, in Kegums, there is not a single siren, so in the event of an emergency, the signal from Ogre will not reach there.
Municipalities emphasize that sirens and mobile alerts do not replace each other but should work simultaneously. This is especially important in crisis situations when mobile communication may be overloaded or unavailable.
Importantly, local authorities are not asking the state for additional funding. They are willing to purchase the equipment themselves and even transfer it free of charge to the State Fire and Rescue Service.
However, current legislation effectively prohibits municipalities from purchasing material and technical resources for state structures.
The Ogre region has been addressing the Ministry of the Interior on this issue since the end of 2024. Similar interest has also been shown by Riga, Kekava, Sigulda, Jekabpils, and other regions.
Against the backdrop of increasing discussions about civil security and aerial threats, the topic of sirens in Latvia is becoming more sensitive.
After a series of incidents involving drones and large-scale alerts through the cellular notification system, authorities have begun to actively discuss the country's readiness for crisis situations.
This year, the necessary changes to the Cabinet of Ministers' rules have already been prepared and submitted for public discussion. However, the final decision still needs to be made by the government.
If the amendments are approved, municipalities will be able to start purchasing sirens and expanding the alert network in the near future.
