Kauai County to test emergency alert system

LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – If you live on Kauai, or are visiting, you could receive an emergency alert on your phone Tuesday.

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The Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) is testing its new mass notification platform, Everbridge. The system will be used for critical public safety situations including flash floods, hurricanes, and wildfires.

Test alerts will be sent to mobile devices, landlines, and by email between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The County says alerts will clearly state that they are tests.

Residents can opt in for emergency alerts and other notifications on the County’s website.

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The Everbridge systems allows the county to also send emergency messages to people who haven’t opted in. The system draws from a national database of verified phone numbers and can geo-target phones in specific neighborhoods.

“Signing up directly remains the most reliable way to make sure you receive every alert on every device that matters to you,” said KEMA Administrator Elton Oshio. “We strongly encourage everyone on Kauai to take a few minutes to register.”

KEMA will evaluate the system’s performance following Tuesday’s test to guide improvements ahead of the full implementation.

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