HAWAII ISLAND – Today’s re-test of the emergency warning siren system on Hawaii Island was successful, reports Hawaii County Civil Defense. The agency says all 71 sirens islandwide sounded at 11:45 a.m., a vast improvement over the July 1st test when 18 of the 71 did not work. The malfunction was linked to a radio system repeater site.

Things were not perfect. Civil Defense says crews will be dispatched to follow up on two reports of abnormal sirens sounding – lower than usual volume in Paukaa and shorter than usual duration in Laupahoehoe.

In a media release following the re-test, Civil Defense again stressed that the island’s emergency warning siren system is “just one facet of a comprehensive emergency notification strategy, which includes sounding sirens, sending phone, text, and email alerts through mass notification systems, Civil Defense messages on radio and television stations, and manual notification by Police, Fire, and Civil Air Patrol.”

“Residents are encouraged to not rely solely on one means of notification and to utilize as many of the tools as possible,” the media release stated. “Civil Defense recommends having a portable battery operated radio to tune in to local broadcasts, and signing up for both Civil Defense (hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense) and Hawai‘i Police Department (hawaiipolice.com) notification systems. In the event of an emergency, every effort will be made to provide the community with timely and accurate notification and guidance.”

Darryl Oliveira

“On behalf of the entire staff of the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, I would like to thank the community for your patience and understanding with the continued maintenance of the siren warning system. We stand behind our commitment to work with everyone to provide for a safer Hawai‘i Island.”