The Overview of Hawaii Emergency Alert System

Understanding Hawaii emergency alert system will help you to get official information regarding public safety and upcoming disasters. By getting official information, you can help yourself in critical situations because the authorities are preparing guidelines and rescue procedures.

In Hawaii, there are many types of emergency alert systems. It embraces both conventional and modern technology to ensure the information can reach wide audiences who are vulnerable. What are the types of alert systems in Hawaii that many people should know to get information and awareness?

The Types of Hawaii Emergency Alert System

Conventional Emergency Alert System in Hawaii

The main emergency alerts systems in Hawaii are Radio broadcast and TV stations. This EAS is not specific that people in Hawaii can access this information as long as they are listening to radio or watching TV stations. The information will interrupt the program that is airing in that specific time.

The weakness of this system is people may not get the information when they no longer rely on those conventional platforms. Thus, it can increase panic because people who are not affected get triggered because they get this information even though they will not be affected by the threats.

Who sends the information to these platforms when the threats are coming? Mostly, the alerts are from the national weather service in Hawaii. However, other agencies that can detect potential public threats also can use this to give instructions and guidelines for evacuation if it is required.

Wireless Emergency Alerts in Hawaii

The wireless emergency alert is more modern than the EAS that is announced through TV and radio stations. This concept is not new in Hawaii because this area has many potential great disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and eruptions. The WEA in Hawaii can send official information to cellphones.

The main functions of wireless alerts that became a reliable Hawaii emergency alert system are sending the information to the users in the potentially affected area. So, the users who are not in the affected area will not get the alerts. It reduces panic among the communities because of its geo-targeted features.

This system is under the national public warning system in Hawaii. The senders of the alerts can be federal, state, and local governments. The alert message will pop-up like a notification on the screen. Besides, the message arrives with a particular tone and vibration to take users’ attention.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

Hawaii has outdoor warning sirens in public space. When the government issues the warning through agencies, the sirens will be active as the signs that there is emergency information. People will pay attention to the next information that is delivered through conventional platforms and wireless alert systems. Usually, it is instruction or official guideline.

However, this siren will not sound in every situation. When is it required to announce the whole Hawaii? The siren only sounds when there would be a tsunami after a big earthquake. It also sounds when the disaster and public threats are threatening to lives. The maintenance of Hawaii sirens is by the Emergency Management Agency.

Hawaiians may hear the test of the sirens every first day of the month, on a business day. This test was informed first to the communities, so they will not be shocked because of this Hawaii emergency alert system and think there will be a disaster coming.

HNL Alerts

HNL alert is another system that can inform the upcoming disaster or threats around Hawaii. However, this system is a bit different because only people who have signed up on HNL can get the official information. The management notified through different platforms, such as emails, app notifications, and text. The visitors are recommended to sign up.

The HNL alert is managed by the government of Hawaii. Therefore, the information that is issued through the HNL alert is official. To customize the alerts, the users should create an account on the website hnlalert.gov and set the notifications to appear on the notification bar. The information from HNL alerts is detailed and includes images.

The Hawaii emergency alert system is well-integrated because it includes an SMS broadcaster as one of the devices. This tool sends a wireless alert to the cell phones without any subscriptions and signals. Since this is a reliable device, the government may consider Hawaii’s system as the best example. Read more about this device here.