Kaua‘i county to run wireless emergency alert test Jan. 26

The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency will conduct a system-wide test of the county's Wireless Emergency Notification System at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. The scheduled exercise is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen emergency communications across the island and to ensure the county can reach residents quickly during natural hazards or other crises.

Residents should expect to see and hear an alert from the county's WENS at the appointed time. While this is a planned test, the county advises people to take note so they are not surprised if an alert appears on mobile devices or other WENS-enabled channels that evening. The timing, early evening on a weekday, was selected to assess the system under conditions when many people are commuting, working, or at home.

KEMA oversees emergency planning and public alerting for Kaua‘i County, coordinating with local first responders, civil defense partners, and utility agencies. Regular tests like this help technicians verify message delivery, timing, and reach across neighborhoods from Līhu‘e to Hanalei and the rural communities in between. Maintaining reliable notifications is a key layer of preparedness for hurricanes, flash floods, tsunamis, and other hazards that can affect island life.

For households and businesses, the immediate impact is simple: you will likely see a county alert that evening. For the broader community, the test supports long-term resilience by identifying gaps in coverage and by keeping systems current as carriers, devices, and subscriber information change. Those gaps can then be addressed so alerts reach people living and working on Kaua‘i when minutes matter.

Practical steps for residents include checking that primary contact numbers and mobile devices are reachable in the event of an emergency and ensuring devices can receive notifications. If you rely on multiple channels for safety information, such as local radio or community networks, plan how you will cross-check any message you receive during the test. Community groups, businesses, and schools can use the exercise as a reminder to review their own emergency plans and communication chains.

The takeaway? Treat the Jan. 26 test as a friendly rehearsal rather than an alarm. Use it as a prompt to confirm your contact details, check device settings, and make a quick household plan. Our two cents? If your phone is buried in a bag or set to silent, now’s a good time to make sure you’ll hear the next alert when it counts.