False ballistic missile threat sends Hawaii into a state of fear
An emergency alert of an incoming ballistic missile woke Hawaii residents on Saturday, Jan. 13. About 30 minutes later, a second alert was issued notifying residents it was a false alarm. Photo by Rebecca Meyer.
By Shelby Mattos, News Editor
On Saturday, many Hawaii residents woke to a ballistic missile threat alert, which was sent to their mobile devices by Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency. About 30 minutes later, a second alert was issued, stating that the threat alert was an error and that there was no danger to the state. Gov. David Ige and the head of Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency said the "threat button," as it was called during a press conference, was pressed accidentally. The mistake was blamed on human error.
"It was a terrifying way to wake up. My little sister and I were both asleep when the alarm first sounded, and at first we were both just confused," Sacred Hearts Academy senior Taylor McKenzie said. "My mom was going to drive (my family) to the military base ater receiving the message." Residents would have had 15 minutes to take shelter once the alert was issued, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
The first alert read, "Ballistic missile inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." The second alert said," There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm."
For many Academy students, the alarm was a frightening disruption to weekend activities. Junior Rebecca Meyer was at a canoe paddling race at Magic Island when the first alert was issued. "I was in the middle of going out to my race, and all of a sudden, the paddlers were getting out of the canoes and climbing out of the water. It was so surreal to see everyone running," Meyer said. "Some of my friends were being grabbed by their parents." Approximately 30 minutes ater the false alarm was sent to mobile devices, both local and national news outlets released more information on the false threat. Hawaii News Now was one of the first local news organizations to reveal that the alert was false. State officials such as, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard took to social media to inform the public that there was no missile threat to Hawaii.
News of the threat pervaded Twitter and many other social media services. Many Hawaii residents were trying to find shelter, believing that it was not a test. Many were upset with how long it took for the state to correct the error.