With the threat of nuclear attack once again a possibility, Hawaii is bringing back a different reminder of the Cold War with the reintroduction of monthly tests of the Attack Warning Tone. Last aired in the mid-1990s, the alert will again be heard on the first business day of every month, following existing tests of other sirens intended to warn of hurricanes or tsunamis, as described in a news release from the state Emergency Management Agency.
While no attack is considered imminent, the continued standoff between the Unites States and North Korea were viewed as being of sufficient significance for reintroducing the warning. Observed Richard Rapoza, spokesman for the Emergency Management Agency to the New York Times, “It is our job to prepare people for any kind of emergency. So now because of the North Korea threat we are starting to use it again.”
The reintroduction of the Attack Warning Tone also follows a release earlier this year of guidelines from the Emergency Management Agency on how to survive a nuclear detonation, and of a public service announcement in November from the agency, reminding people of the importance of the tone, indicating “the attack warning signal advises everyone to take immediate shelter — get inside, stay inside, stay tuned.”
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/us/hawaii-nuclear-korea.html?_r=0
