Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency notifies the public that a planned test of Kauaʻi County’s new emergency mass notification service Everbridge is scheduled for mid-June..
This test at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, is part of ongoing Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency efforts to evaluate and enhance the county’s multi-layered emergency communication capabilities and public alerting tools used during emergencies.
Residents and visitors on Kauaʻi can receive test alerts on their mobile device, landline or by email during a 1-hour window from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on test day. Alerts will clearly state they are tests.
The test can also be delivered to individuals who subscribed directly to Everbridge notifications and, through Resident Connection, to additional verified phone numbers within the county.
Note that the test applies only to Everbridge emergency mass notifications issued by Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency and does not include specialized alerts from Kauaʻi County Department of Water.
Everbridge is a mass notification tool designed to quickly deliver critical information — such as flash floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards that threaten life or property — during emergencies.
It is one of several tools used to share emergency information and can be activated alongside sirens, Wireless Emergency Alerts, Emergency Alert System, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio, private weather and emergency alert applications and other technologies.
Subscribers can receive messages by text, automated voice call or email.
In addition to its opt-in subscriber list, Kauaʻi County’s Everbridge system includes Resident Connection, a feature that allows Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency to reach a much broader audience during emergencies.
Resident Connection draws from a national database of verified mobile, landline and VoIP phone numbers, allowing alerts to be delivered even to residents and visitors who have not signed up directly. It also allows Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency to geo-target messages to a specific neighborhood or broadcast islandwide, depending on the nature of the emergency.
“Reaching every member of our community quickly and reliably is one of our highest priorities during an emergency,” said Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio in an announcement about the upcoming test. “With Everbridge and Resident Connection, we are able to extend our reach well beyond our opt-in subscriber list and connect with residents and visitors across more devices.”
Ushio added that signing up directly remains the most reliable way to make sure to receive every alert on every device that matters.
“We strongly encourage everyone on Kauaʻi to take a few minutes to register,” he said.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to subscribe landlines, cellphones or email addresses to Everbridge by visiting the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency website.
You will automatically be enrolled for Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency emergency alerts when filling out the sign-up form. If you want to receive specialized alerts from Kauaʻi County Department of Water, select that on the form.
The Department of Water uses Everbridge to send water outage alerts, water conservation notices and more.
Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency will evaluate system performance, including delivery success and geographic reach, following the test. Results will guide future improvements and support full implementation before an emergency occurs.
Visit the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency website or call 808-241-1800 for additional information about Everbridge or emergency preparedness.
