April’s monthly emergency siren test aligns with 80th anniversary of deadly tsunami to Hawaiian Islands

The upcoming monthly statewide all-hazard siren system test aligns with the 80th anniversary of the devastating 1946 tsunami that struck the Hawaiian Islands, leading to the tragic loss of over 100 lives, according to a news release from Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System is scheduled for Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. The siren test will be coordinated with a test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System.

On April Foolʻs Day 1946, Hilo and the surrounding coast were hit by the most devastating tsunami in Hawaiʻi’s modern history. The death toll was 158.

The tsunami was triggered by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake (although some scientists now say it was closer to 8.5-magnitude) that happened in the middle of the night off the Alaskan coast. Less than five hours later, the monster waves rolled in from the Aleutian Islands, surprising the State of Hawaiʻi.

During this monthly test, all Statewide Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound a one-minute Attention Alert Signal (steady tone). A test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is conducted at roughly the same time as the monthly siren sounding, in cooperation with the Hawai‘i broadcast industry.

There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test.

The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of the Hawai‘i Statewide Alert and Warning System used to notify the public during emergencies. If you hear this siren tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. These may be in the form of a local radio or television station broadcast and/or a cellular Wireless Emergency Alert.

Wireless Emergency Alerts deliver sound-and-text warnings to compatible mobile cellular phones. The Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert notifications are sent via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Emergency management and disaster preparedness information may be found in the “Get Ready” section of ready.hawaii.gov, as well as in the front section of telephone directories in most counties. For the latest information from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), or to sign up for county alerts, visit ready.hawaii.gov.

The public may contact emergency management and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency at 808-935-0031.