2018 Hawaii false missile alert

false public emergency alert incident in 2018

On January 13, 2018, a false ballistic missile alert was issued by the Emergency Alert System and Commercial Mobile Alert System over television, radio, and cellphones in the U.S. state of Hawaii.[1][2] The alert said that there was an incoming ballistic missile threat to Hawaii, advised residents to seek shelter, and said "this is not a drill".[3]

2018 Hawaii missile alert
The mobile alert notification sent in Hawaii
DateJanuary 13, 2018 (2018-01-13)
Time08:07
Duration38 minutes
LocationHawaii, United States of America
TypeFalse alarm

The message was sent at 8:07 a.m. HST.[4][5] 38 minutes later a second message was sent describing the first as a "false alarm".[4] State officials later blamed a button pushed in error during a shift change at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for the false first message.[6]

Governor David Ige publicly said he was sorry for the false alert. The United States Federal Communications Commission and the Hawaii House of Representatives announced investigations into the incident.

References

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  1. "'Chaotic and nerve-wracking scene' as people across Hawaii get false alarm of imminent missile attack". ABC News. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  2. Wood, Vincent (January 13, 2018). "HAWAII FALSE ALERT: Chilling ballistic missile warning issued to residents in ERROR". Express. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  3. "Hawaii officials mistakenly warn of inbound missile". Associated Press. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Wang, Amy (January 13, 2018). "Hawaii officials say 'NO missile threat' amid emergency alerts". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. ""Ballistic missile threat" warning in Hawaii a false alarm". NBC News. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  6. Cohen, Zachary (January 13, 2018). "Missile threat alert for Hawaii a false alarm". CNN. Retrieved January 13, 2018.