Hilo siren taken offline after 2 false alarms

An emergency siren on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo has been taken offline after a malfunction caused it to sound twice on Monday.

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported at 5 a.m. Monday that a siren had triggered in error earlier that morning. At 8 p.m. that evening, Civil Defense reported that a malfunction had once again caused a siren to sound earlier that night.

Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno confirmed Tuesday that one faulty siren — near the intersection of Kanoelehua Avenue and Banyan Drive, across from Ken’s House of Pancakes — was the cause of both incidents.

“After the incident in the morning, the siren didn’t show signs of malfunctioning,” Magno said. “After the second one, we confirmed, ‘Yeah, it must have been that one.’”

The faulty siren has been deactivated for the time being. Magno said the sirens are the equipment of the state Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and it is that agency’s responsibility to repair or replace them.

Until then, Magno said other sirens around Hilo still function properly and remain active, and there are other redundant emergency warning measures available for residents, including notifications via radio, television and the Everbridge public warning app.

At the same time, Magno advised that in the event a siren sounds, residents should check with other emergency warning channels to confirm the veracity of the siren alert.

HI-EMA representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.