Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO of the American Red Cross in Hawaii, said Saturday’s false missile alert serves as a reminder of the possibility of a ballistic missile attack on Hawaii.
“If this threat was real, you and your family would have only about 15 minutes to act,” she wrote. “Because we live in an ever-changing world with many different types of threats — natural hazards, safety threats, manmade crisis and pandemics, it is important to have a household disaster plan for evacuation and communication, and to have a 14-day kit.”
Government agencies in Hawaii do not try to open shelters in case of nuclear missile attack, as the estimated timeline of about 15 to 20 minutes would not be sufficient for people to get there.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency recommends this immediate action:
• If you are indoors, stay indoors well away from windows.
• If you are outdoors, seek immediate shelter in a building, preferably a concrete structure such as a commercial building or parking structure.
• If you are driving, pull safely to the side of the road and stop. If a shelter is very close, shelter in that structure. If not, remain in your vehicle and lay on the floor.
• Remain sheltered until you are told it is safe to leave or two weeks (14 days) have passed, whichever comes first.
• Listen to local radio stations for official information.
• Cell phone, television, radio and internet services will be severely disrupted or unavailable.
• Small, portable walkie-talkies may give you communication with nearby shelters.
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The Garden Island
Thank you for this valuable information.