Big Island’s Silent Tsunami Sirens Blamed on Computer Glitch

A handful of emergency sirens failed to sound on the Big Island Saturday night, and officials there think they’ve found the cause: a computer glitch. 

West Hawaii Today reports that although Hawaii County sounded the alarm at 8:15 p.m., as many as 10 sirens didn’t respond. West Hawaii Today talked with Assistant Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua:

The department, which manages the 71 sirens along with Civil Defense, learned of sirens staying silent through officers in the field, Kanehailua said.

The problem was fixed the second time around at about 9:15 p.m. when the sirens were activated manually from the dispatch center in Hilo, he said.

Kanehailua said he knew of sirens being delayed in Keaukaha, Hawaiian Paradise Park, and possibly Kohala.

Let’s hope they figure this one out because even an hour could make all the difference in a more serious disaster. Read the full story.