Broadcaster, civil defense panel to recommend changes

The governor admits to troubling gaps in communication systems after Sunday's quakes

Acknowledging the government's chinks in communication during times of crisis, Gov. Linda Lingle is reaching out to broadcasters to make several improvements to the state's emergency alert system.

A committee made up of state Civil Defense officials and broadcasters will be formed to look into various improvements, including recording messages that state there is no tsunami, and asking private broadcasters to invest in backup power.

"I think we could've done a lot better," Lingle said of Sunday's response time. "We think there is room for a lot of improvement there, and we're hoping to bring in people from the stations themselves."

There was no information about Sunday's 6.7 and 6.0 earthquakes on KSSK, Oahu's official emergency broadcast station, until about 8 a.m.

Several residents, including Big Isle resident Bill Martin, were left in the dark, figuratively and literally, after power failed across the state and KSSK stuck to its pre-programmed schedule for almost an hour, until employees arrived to begin live broadcasts.

"I tried going from station to station on my battery radio," said Martin, 68, of Kurtistown. "I'm no spring chicken. I've been through tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and this is absolutely the worst response I have ever seen anywhere on the world for any kind of disaster."

Part of the discussion with station managers, including TV, radio and public access, will include investing in backup generators and keeping in touch even when the stations are on auto-pilot programming.

Lingle also said the committee would look at having certified translators for the state's most common languages to volunteer to translate information to non-English speakers during a crisis. The governor expects the committee's work to be done in 60 days.

No tsunami alert went out because Sunday's quake was less than a 6.9 magnitude, said Civil Defense spokesman Ray Lovell. Earthquakes of 6.9 or higher trigger an automatic tsunami alert.

However, there are no messages or signals to inform residents that there is no tsunami.

The tsunami sirens are powered by independent generators and would function if electricity were cut off, said state Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Robert Lee.

Sounding the sirens would have caused panic, he said.

Lovell said people might catch only the end of the emergency alert and misconstrue it to be a confirmation of a tsunami.

"It could be a recipe for havoc," Lovell said.

However, Civil Defense will look at recording a no-tsunami message.

"I'm not going to say our actions were perfect," Lovell said. "I think we did the best that we could, under the circumstances, but we have to look at being able to alter those circumstances."