Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency

For Immediate Release
December 28, 2018

What: Monthly Siren Test for January 2019
Who: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency
When: Wednesday, January 2, 2019

MONTHLY SIREN AND EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST

HONOLULU — The State’s monthly test of the Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at
11:45 a.m.

The warning sirens are used to alert the public to emergencies. During this monthly test, all warning sirens will sound a one-minute Attention Alert Signal (Steady Tone). There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test.

During this test, all warning sirens sound a STEADY one minute Attention Alert Signal. If you hear this tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. This may be in the form of a cellular Wireless Emergency Alert, local radio, or television station broadcast.

Oahu residents in areas surrounding Campbell Industrial Park may also hear a “whooping” tone following the siren test. These areas include portions of Kalaeloa, Makakilo, Nanakuli, Kapolei, & Ewa Beach. The “whooping” tone is a test of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) siren warning group that will be activated in the event of a HAZMAT incident requiring emergency notification of businesses, schools and residents within the vicinity of Campbell Industrial Park. Contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management at (808) 723-8960 for more information on the HAZMAT warning group siren test.

The Outdoor Warnings Sirens for Public Safety are one part of Hawaii’s Statewide Alert & Warning System. A simultaneous test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is conducted with the siren system, in cooperation with Hawaii’s broadcast industry. In the event of a real emergency, Warning Sirens and Emergency Alert Broadcasts may be joined by alerts via the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, which delivers sound-and-text warnings to mobile telephones and compatible devices. EAS & WEA notifications are managed by FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure.

Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located at the front section of telephone directories in all counties. The public may contact emergency management and county civil defense agencies to report siren operation issues:

Hawaii County (808) 935-0031
Maui County (808) 270-7285
City and County of Honolulu (808) 723-8960
Kauai County (808) 241-1800

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Contact:
Arlina Agbayani
Public Relations Officer
[email protected]
808-392-0780

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency
[email protected]