Special Test of Emergency Sirens Tuesday at 11:45 a.m.

A special test of the emergency warning system will be conducted at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said.

The exercise will test the system’s readiness following repairs carried out following the failure of 18 of the system’s 71 Big Island sirens during the regular monthly test on the first of the month. The siren failures occurred in Hilo and Puna.

The malfunction was traced to a radio repeater site on Mauna Loa that failed to perform. Civil Defense officials said the issue was corrected immediately, and Tuesday’s follow-up test was scheduled to confirm that the repairs were successful.

Officials issued a statement reminding the public that the siren system is just one method of notification of emergencies and disasters. The activation or sounding of the sirens is a prompt to listen to the radio for follow-up information and instructions.

The public is also encouraged to learn about the hazards that affect our community including tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, and to plan and prepare for those unpredictable events.

“Our goal is to continually improve our systems and capabilities, and to reduce the potential for breaks or gaps in our ability to provide the community with accurate and timely notifications and advisories,” Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said.

“We appreciate the public’s understanding, and want to assure our community that every effort will be made to provide the necessary information and guidance to allow you to make decisions in the best interest of your safety.”