LIHUE — Hawaii observes Tsunami Awareness Month in April, promoting preparedness across the Hawaiian chain.
To keep the Garden Island both aware and prepared, the Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) and other emergency management partners across the state are displaying a banner with information regarding historical tsunami wave run-up heights.
The banner can be found in the Moikeha and Kapule buildings through April.
Last week, KEMA launched its new online tool, which allows residents and businesses to monitor the All-Hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System, note whether the sirens are functioning properly throughout the island, and alert the public of emergencies.
The survey results will be available monthly and assist KEMA and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) in reporting any issues, such as unusual or unclear sounds, activation failures, or visible damage.
“Everyone should know Kauai’s tsunami evacuation zones in relation to where they live, work, or spend time. Identifying the quickest route or routes to higher ground ahead of time is also important,” said KEMA Administrator Elton Ushio
“A tsunami can occur suddenly, often with minimal warning; check Kauai’s tsunami evacuation zones and prepare a plan for potential evacuations.”
Tana and Steve Ball, volunteers at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, were attentive on Tuesday, prepared to listen and document their observations. Steve noted that, typically, they can scarcely hear the siren: “We live in Princeville, and Princeville doesn’t have a siren tower. The refuge is sandwiched between Anini North and Hanalei Dolphin Tower, so we barely hear it,” he said.
As the final minute approached, Tana promptly notified two visitors at the refuge about the impending siren. When the clock indicated 11:45 a.m., everyone present remained motionless and exchanged glances with one another.
“I kinda hear it, said Tana. “Gosh, I sure wish that was louder. That wasn’t very loud at all; I barely heard that.”
“I heard when the siren began and then when it ended, but nothing in between, added Steve. “I barely even heard a tone.”
Lisa and Lucas Fox, visiting from Wisconsin, expressed their familiarity with siren testing protocols. They noted that similar to their home state, tornado warning sirens in Wisconsin are tested every month.
“I don’t think we heard a siren,” said Lucas, “I think possibly because of the helicopter right there, but still maybe— I think it needs some fine-tuning because we didn’t hear anything.”
“It’s a little concerning, but thank God it’s just a test,” said Lisa. We have tornado warnings in Wisconsin, and you can hear them. We test them on the first of the month, too, at 9 a.m., and where we live, there are several. I can also hear them while I am driving,” she said,” but no, we didn’t hear anything.”
“Do better, Kauai,” added Lucas. “Like I said, they need some fine-tuning because we didn’t hear anything.”
While Steve finished the survey, Tana emphasized the importance of Princeville getting a siren tower. She said, “We have to educate our visitors and people in case a crisis ever occurs so they know how to react, but if they can’t hear the siren, what are they supposed to do?”
“It’s needed here in Princeville. We are between Anini and Hanalei tower, and there are a lot of people that live and shop here, and it would be nice to have that peace of mind,” added Steve.
Early Sunday morning, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued an alert saying hazardous waves could be possible after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga.
Hawaii Red Cross and Pacific Islands Director of Communications Matthew Wells provided some tips on remaining tsunami-ready and prepared.
“First, make sure you know if your home is in a Tsunami Zone,” said Wells. “This will alert you if you are likely to shelter in place or need to evacuate.
“Second, make sure you have supplies on hand to ride out any impact the tsunami may have. For those evacuating, have a Go-Bag ready with essentials like food, water, medication, and important documents like deeds and birth certificates; be sure you take these with you to a shelter.
“For those able to shelter in place, make sure you have an increased storage of food and water on hand – two weeks’ worth is a good estimate. Additionally, if you have a generator, be sure you can keep it powered to charge any devices that allow you to send/receive information, like phones and radios,” explained Wells.
“In either scenario, make sure you have a plan in place to check in with family and friends to communicate that everyone is safe,” he shared.”A great way to stay informed is with the Red Cross Emergency! App. It provides emergency alerts, locations of open shelters, and advice on what to pack in your Go-Bag.”
The All-Hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System test is conducted every first of the month at 11:45 a.m. It features a 60-second tone with a siren output of 121 decibels that propagates at a manufactured radius of 3,400 feet.
The system was put into place 79 years ago after an 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska on April 1, 1946. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed 159 people and caused significant damage in Hilo.
Residents interested in participating in the survey on May 1 can visit https://tgilinks.com/3FQAbA8. The test is voluntary and takes about three minutes.
For further information on preparedness and tsunami evacuation zones and locations, visit HawaiiEMA@hawaii.gov or call 808.733.4300. Another way to remain informed is by downloading the Hawaii Red Cross Emergency App, which provides excellent tips on Go-Bags, alerts, and shelter locations.
