Are we truly prepared for a major disaster?
by Teri Theuriet | July 17, 2023
On June 1, the start of the 2023 hurricane season, board members with the American Red Cross in Hawaii led and participated in an exercise designed to evaluate our state’s readiness for a major disaster. I was fortunate enough to join them and I have to admit, the experience left me with plenty to think about.
The scenario for the exercise was response to a massive tsunami generated by a major earthquake in Alaska. The assumption was that the 50-foot wave would directly impact the north shores but then wrap around all islands. For the exercise, we focused just on impact and response for Oahu, and since I work in communications, I was on the team tasked with identifying communications strengths and challenges.
I left the exercise with two key takeaways. First: Landline phones and radios will be critical.
Even though most cell towers are elevated and may not be in tsunami inundation zones, we know from experience — like the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and 2018 missile false alarm — that cell phone networks can get overwhelmed in a crisis situation. And we know cell towers are vulnerable to hurricanes or any strong storm. Plus, if a tsunami takes down the power grid, cell phone towers may only be able to operate on battery backup for a few hours. But landline phones should still work as an option for communication. If you don’t have one, you may consider finding someone who does. I gave my own home phone up years ago. My mom still has hers though, and she’s not in an evacuation zone, so that’s where my family would go. Note to self: Make sure the family knows our plan as well as the evacuation zones and shelter locations.
Radio has always been a reliable means for mass communication. Even if broadcast towers are down on Oahu, a locally-owned media group shared that it’s working on an infrastructure plan that would enable them to broadcast radio messages from another island to Oahu should they be unable to do so from here. Again though, if power is out, do you have battery-powered or hand-crank radios? If you’re planning to hop into a car and listen to the radio that way, consider that could mean using up gas, which would be a precious commodity during a disaster. So, another note to self: Make sure there’s a working radio in the emergency kit.
That brings me to takeaway number two: Emergency preparedness really, really needs to be taken more seriously.
I don’t think anyone believes that every household has 14 days of food and water for themselves or their families. Let alone having extra for neighbors, relatives or visitors. Who would be able to pitch in should everyone on the coast from Waikiki to Waianae need somewhere to stay or food to eat? The island’s food supply could be wiped out in just a couple of days if the harbors, airports and farmlands are damaged or destroyed.
At Hawaiian Electric, we’re pretty consistent about sending out reminders to be prepared for hurricanes or other disasters. We have an Emergency Preparedness Handbook in multiple languages on our website and available at libraries, hardware stores and other locations. But knowing what you need and actually having what you need are totally different. Some steps are more challenging than other. I mean, I try to make sure we have our food supply ready, but storing water for a family of four is tough. And I’m sure my kids have outgrown the clothes I had stored for them.
If the Red Cross exercise taught me anything, it’s that I need to keep my emergency kit up to date. After all, the more people prepared to take care of themselves and their families, the fewer there will be relying on the Red Cross, food banks and other agencies that will already be stretched to the limit.
Teri Theuriet is manager of internal corporate communications at Hawaiian Electric.
