What’s that sound? State to test four East Hawaii warning sirens Friday
Four Big Island warning sirens are scheduled for a special siren test Friday.
The tests will sound various alert tones which will be audible in the surrounding area, but there is no hazard and members of the public need not take any action, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
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Equipment tests are scheduled between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. The tests will be in Hilo and nearby communities, in cooperation with the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.
The specific locations of the sirens to be tested are:
• Kaumana Elementary School, Hilo
• Kulaimano Community Center, Pepeekeo
• Gilbert Carvalho Park, Hilo
• Hualani Park, Hilo
Testing at each site usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. People within a mile of the site being tested will hear short bursts of various siren tones (steady tone, high-low, tamper warning, etc.). No action is required if you hear a warning siren test.
“We try to limit our siren tests to the first business day of each month to reduce disruption, but it’s vital to run certain checks when we install new equipment,” said HI-EMA Administrator James DS. Barros. “These tests help ensure that the new gear is integrated with the statewide network and can alert the local communities if there’s an imminent hazard.”
The new equipment is part of the state’s ongoing Outdoor Warning Siren Modernization Program. Sirens are being upgraded and new sirens installed at locations statewide under this program.
There are more than 400 sirens in Hawaii’s Outdoor Warning System, which is used to alert members of the public to take immediate action to protect themselves from a hazard such as a tsunami or hurricane.
The equipment being tested may include new siren locations, relocations of existing sirens, or upgraded equipment.
For questions regarding the scheduled siren testing, contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.
