The state Emergency Management Agency and Hawaii County Civil Defense will conduct siren testing between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday at Hilo Hillsides Estates and MacKenzie State Recreation Area in Pahoa.
Residents nearby might hear the siren sound for intervals of 30 seconds to 3 minutes intervals during the designated time frame. Testing will include short blasts known as “burps.”
During the tests, Emergency Management officials and technicians will check the functionality of the sirens.
These sirens were installed as part of the state’s ongoing All-Hazard Outdoor Warning Siren Program. Other sirens will be updated, and new sirens installed, at various locations around the island under this program.
The county encourages the public to use other supplemental methods of warning, including signing up with the Civil Defense mass emergency notification system provided by Everbridge or using NOAA Weather Radio.
Residents with concerns about the sirens or their operations, or with reports of siren malfunctions, can contact Civil Defense at 935-0031.