Hawaii is not prepared to respond in the event a nuclear ballistic missile attack.
That's according to a comprehensive state report that looked at the false missile alert sent to all Hawaii phones on Jan. 13 and sought recommendations for preventing another false alarm — and bolstering preparedness for a threat that the state has stressed is unlikely but not impossible.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige and other officials presented the 31-page report at a news conference Tuesday, saying its 44 short- and long-term recommendations provide a guide book for moving forward.
"We are identifying gaps and vulnerabilities for handling all hazards so the residents in our state can be prepared," Ige said. "As we take these action steps described in the report we will become a stronger and more resilient community."
The report stresses that better training, more robust plans and greater coordination between the state and federal government is needed to prepare for an attack — and make sure the state doesn't send out another false alarm.
It also urges the state to keep its ballistic missile preparedness campaign on hold (except for monthly siren tests) until a plan can be put in place and the majority of Hawaii's residents know "what to do, where to go and when to do it."
"It is important to note that HI-EMA (Hawaii Emergency Management Agency) is prepared for and stands ready to immediately respond to and provide support to the counties of Hawaii ensuring rapid recovery from natural and man-made disasters — with the exception of nuclear capable ballistic missile attack," the report said.
Key findings of the report include:
- The failure to have systems in place in response to a false alert was the primary contributing factor for the delay in getting out a correction. (It took 38 minutes for a correction to be sent to all phones after the false alarm.)
- There was no plan in place for notifying the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's public information officer in the state's Ballistic Missile Alert Checklist.
- The false missile alert was the result of human error (something a previous state and FCC report also concluded) exacerbated by a series of leadership failures at the emergency management agency in rapid decision-making and communications plan to correct the initial error.
- Warnings for a missile alert were established without knowing what to do with aftermath, contrary to plans for other types of possible disasters.
- The Hawaii Emergency Management was mismanaged. The report says, "HI-EMA senior leadership lacked awareness of personnel issues within the SWP (State Warning Point). Moreover, mid-level management failed to take appropriate personnel actions for employees who demonstrated poor performance."
- HI-EMA is underfunded and has no projects or programs underway to mitigate known capability gaps.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara wrote the report — and finished it earlier than the 60 days he was given.
This story will be updated.
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