Hawaii emergency sirens to sound for monthly test July 1

Hawaii’s outdoor warning sirens sounded at 11:45 a.m. July 1 for the routine monthly test, sending out a one-minute steady attention tone across the state. The check was paired with the Emergency Alert System’s live audio broadcast segment and carried no drill or exercise. On Hawaii Island, where sirens are part of the same warning network used for tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other hazards, the test ran before the Independence Day weekend.

The sirens are part of the Hawaii Statewide Alert and Warning System and are used for tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents and other imminent dangers. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s outdoor warning system emits 121 decibels and has a manufacturer radius of 3,400 feet, though actual coverage can shift with terrain, buildings and weather. The test also ran in cooperation with the Hawaii broadcast industry.

Hawaii County Civil Defense asks residents to listen for the monthly test and report how the sirens perform. Residents’ reports help identify operational and malfunctioning units. The sirens are mechanical systems subject to failure, and the nearest siren cannot be guaranteed to sound. If a siren seems not to work properly, residents can contact Hawaii County Civil Defense’s Emergency Management Division at (808) 935-0031.

If the tone sounds outside a test, follow official instructions through radio, television or Wireless Emergency Alerts rather than assuming it is routine. Hawaii County’s Everbridge system can also push warnings by email, text message and recorded calls to cell phones and landlines. State officials also launched a siren status map so the public can check whether specific sirens are operational in their communities.