Hawaii has announced it will hold testing of its Cold War-era nuclear attack warning sirens.
The mounting threat of a nuclear North Korea has prompted the state of Hawaii to resume monthly statewide testing of its Cold-War-era nuclear attack warning sirens. This if the first time in thirty years, that Hawaii is considering firing up the old alarm system. A state official has told residents to create a plan of keeping track of their families in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.
As part of the decades-old drill, air-raid sirens will be sounded for a minute in more than 400 locations across the central Pacific Islands. According to state officials, the test will begin at 11:45 on Friday and will be repeated on the first business day of each month. The monthly tests will be accompanied by public service announcements telling Hawaii residents to “get inside, stay inside and stay tuned” if they should hear the siren.
“Emergency preparedness is knowing what to expect and what to do for all hazards,” said Hawaii Emergency Management Agency chief, Vern Miyagi.
Hawaii’s decision to increase nuclear attack awareness comes on the heels of increased escalation between North Korea and the US. President, Donald Trump has repeatedly taunted the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, by calling him “rocket man” and threatening to unleash “ fire and fury” on his country. North Korean Foreign Minister, Ri Yong Ho called Trump’s insult an “irreversible mistake” saying that an attack on the U.S. mainland was “inevitable”.
White House chief of staff, John Kelly, has said in October that the US needs to be concerned about a potential nuclear attack considering that Pyongyang “is developing a pretty good nuclear re-entry vehicle”.
Nuclear attack sirens were discontinued in the 80s as soon as the Cold War showed signs of coming to an end. However, in light of the recent threats, Hawaii is reintroducing the alarm system as North Korea is reportedly capable of reaching both the state and the US mainland.
Agency spokesman, Richard Rapoza, said that single 150-kiloton weapon detonated over Pearl Harbor on the main island of Oahu would be enough to kill just under twenty thousand people and leave fifty thousand to 120 thousand people injured. Hawaii is 4.600 miles away from North Korea.
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Roxanne Briean
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