2018-01-13 HIEMA Media Update Missile False Alarm

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CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY Date: January 13, 2018 MEDIA UPDATE Time: 1:30 pm Radio Frequency: None Update #: 2018-002 Incident: Missile Launch False Alarm HONOLULU — The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) has confirmed that there was no ballistic missile and that there were no computer hacks to the HI-EMA system. The cause of the false alarm was human error. The following is a synopsis of what occurred: HI-EMA has already taken measures to ensure that an incident such as the one that occurred this morning does not happen again. HI-EMA has also started a review of cancellation procedures to inform the public immediately if a cancellation is warranted. We understand that false alarms such as this can erode public confidence in our emergency notification systems. We understand the serious nature of the warning alert systems and the need to get this right 100% of the time. “I know first-hand how today’s false alarm affected all of us here in Hawaii, and I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this and am doing everything I can do to immediately improve our emergency management systems, procedures and staffing,” said Gov. David Ige. The following is a synopsis of what occurred: Approx. 8:05 a.m. – A routine internal test during a shift change was initiated. This was a test that involved the Emergency Alert System, the Wireless Emergency Alert, but no warning sirens. 8:07 a.m. – A warning test was triggered statewide by the State Warning Point, HI-EMA. 8:10 a.m. – State Adjutant Maj. Gen. Joe Logan, validated with the U.S. Pacific Command that there was no missile launch. Honolulu Police Department notified of the false alarm by HI-EMA. 8:13 a.m. – State Warning Point issues a cancellation of the Civil Danger Warning Message. This would have prevented the initial alert from being rebroadcast to phones that may not have received it yet. For instance, if a phone was not on at 8:07 a.m., if someone was out of range and has since came into cell coverage (Hikers, Mariners, etc.) and/or people getting off a plane. 8:20 a.m. – HI-EMA issues public notification of cancellation via their Facebook and Twitter accounts. 8:24 a.m. – Governor Ige retweets HI-EMA’s cancellation notice. 8:30 a.m. – Governor posts cancellation notification to his Facebook page.