Did you hear the siren? Let Kaua‘i Emergency Management know with new online tool

Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency wants to know when — and if — you hear the siren during the statewide outdoor warning siren tests at the beginning of each month.

Kaua‘i County’s emergency management agency launched a new online reporting tool so residents and businesses can voluntarily help monitor the monthly tests.

“We encourage everyone, especially those who live or work near sirens, to report whether they heard the siren or noticed any malfunctions,” said Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio in an announcement about the new tool. “Community feedback is critical to maintaining a reliable alert system. This is an opportunity for residents and businesses to play an active role in disaster preparedness.”

The online survey tool, which is live now, is aimed at making sure Hawai‘i’s Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System is functioning correctly.

Owned and operated by Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, the outdoor warning system is tested regularly at 11:45 a.m. the first business day of each month by sirens placed around the island sounding a steady 1-minute tone.

Monthly siren diagnostics also are coordinated with a test of the live audio broadcast of the Emergency Alert System.

April’s test is slated for Tuesday, April 1, no joke.

In addition to whether they hear a siren, residents also can use the new Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency online reporting tool to report issues such as:

• Sirens making unusual or unclear sounds.
• Sirens that failure to activate.
• Visible damage to sirens.

These reports from the community will help county and state emergency management officials improve the outdoor warning siren system’s effectiveness for alerting the public during emergencies.