Kauai County switches to Everbridge for emergency alerts on May 5

Kauai residents who rely on county alerts are about to see a new emergency system go live, and anyone who ignores the change could miss warnings after May 5. The county is replacing Inspiron Logistics’ WENS platform with Everbridge, a switch the Kauai Emergency Management Agency said was chosen by a county committee with disaster-response experience.

The move comes as hurricane season in the Central Pacific begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, a stretch when Kauai watches closely for tsunamis, tropical cyclones, earthquakes and flash floods. KEMA has warned that “it only takes one storm to have adverse effects on our community,” a reminder that a missed alert can turn into a dangerous delay in places from Līhue and Kapaa to Kōloa, Hanapēpē and the North Shore.

The county said existing opt-in notification data will be migrated into the new platform where possible, so residents already signed up should not assume they need to start over. Still, the county is shifting the backbone of its warning system, and the new platform will include Everbridge’s Resident Connect database, which is designed to expand outreach beyond an opt-in subscriber list by using verified mobile, landline and VoIP telephone records.

Kauai County’s current WENS system can send voice messages in minutes, as well as text, email and TTY/TDD alerts. The county says publicly available primary residential and business phones on Kauai are automatically included, and opt-in subscribers can add up to three phone numbers and two email addresses. In a January 26 test, the county said WENS was also integrating new 4-1-1 data to improve delivery to residents and businesses, with alerts sent during a one-hour window and evaluated for delivery success, geographic reach and unsubscribe requests.

KEMA said the system has remained an active operational priority, with its fiscal year 2025 annual report noting notification and warning systems, user and operator training, and system testing and real-world use. Residents who want to make sure they remain in the county’s alert network can call 808-241-1800 or email kema@kauai.gov. As Kauai heads into another storm season, the change is aimed at making sure urgent information reaches more people faster, before a siren, text or voice call becomes a matter of safety.