Hawaii Making Preparations For Missile Attack By North Korea
The American state of Hawaii and its military bases are assembling a plan of preparedness in case of a missile attack launched by North Korea, an unsettling concept that lessens the effects of tourism boosters offered by the state.
“We do not want to cause any undue stress for the public,” Vern T. Miyagi, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency administrator reported in a statement printed on Thursday on behalf of the state’s news media, but “we cannot wait to begin our public information campaign to ensure that Hawaii residents will know what do if such an event occurs.”
According to Hawaii News Now, Friday will be when the complete plan will be unveiled.
Even though, as reported, the preparations do not involve the type of run and hide drills practiced during the early era of the Cold War across America, which involved school children concealing themselves underneath their desks as well as evacuation practices for the benefit of the students all while public service announcements are broadcasts saying, “get inside, stay inside, and stay tuned,” as quoted from officials providing a statement to the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
As delivered in a Hawaii News Now report, the campaign will additionally feature new emergency siren tests that will be conducted on the first workday of each month. “The normal siren will sound, followed by a second siren that would be used in the event of an attack,” the news site reported.
Hawaii, having a reputation of being laid-back regarding most situations, vividly recalls Pearl Harbor, the 1941 U.S. Naval fleet attack carried out by the Japanese in Honolulu.
Since that time, however, the island had focused diligently on being prepared for natural threats such as high waves, tsunamis, typhoons and mosquitoes carrying diseases, instead of missile attacks.
But these current circumstances have redirected their concentration, reacting to the announcement that North Korea has developed an ICBM that has the ability to reach both the Hawaii and Alaska. Following the test of the Hwasong-14 missile, performed at the onset of the summer, it is now believed by U.S. intelligence officials that North Korea has achieved the capabilities of striking a target that is at a distance of 4,000 miles away. “That range would not be enough to reach the Lower 48 states or the large islands of Hawaii but would allow it to reach all of Alaska,” David Wright, senior scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists stated to The Washington Post’s Joby Warrick at the beginning of this month.
None of the islands, big or small, stretching 1,500 miles along the Pacific and home to 1.4 million residents, are taking any chances. Located 4,400 miles from the Korean Peninsula, the islands of Kauai and Niihau, are the farthest west situated islands within achievable proximity. The including the Pentagon’s Pacific Command, among other important military bases, also call Hawaii home.
In April, the concern was so troubling that the Hawaii’s House of Representatives approved a resolution that cited North Korea’s newfound abilities and called for fallout shelters to be updated as well as backup container shipping ports, taking into account the economy of Hawaii and the residents who would depend on food and supplies from the ships.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is not too excited about all the information that has come officials.
“Everyone’s safety in Hawaii is always our top priority,” Charlene Chan, a spokeswoman for the agency, said in a statement reported by the Star Advertiser. “However, we also know from speaking to our tourism industry partners that if reports are misinterpreted about the state’s need to prepare for an attack, this could lead to travelers and groups staying away from Hawaii. The effect of such a downturn would ultimately be felt by residents who rely on tourism’s success for their livelihood.”
Aside from that, she added, North Korea’s threat “is a very remote possibility at this time.”
Miyagi, a retired Army general, affirmed. In April, he proclaimed that an attack is “a low probability. … But then, so, we have to keep a lookout for that. That’s why we’re talking about updating the plan. It’s an awakening.”
“Know where to go, know what to do, and know when to do it,” he commented.