Siren sounded on Niʻihau ahead of hurricane-force winds

The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency has sounded the outdoor warning siren on Niʻihau this evening as hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Lowell move toward the island.

The siren was activated before those winds were forecast to arrive, giving residents a final signal to move indoors and stay there.

The trigger for sounding the siren on Niʻihau is the imminent arrival of sustained hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or greater. The National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasts the core of Hurricane Lowell to pass near or just west of Niʻihau tonight and into early Tuesday, which places the island closest to the strongest winds in the storm.

Sirens on Kauaʻi have thus far not been activated. If forecast conditions warrant, KEMA may activate sirens on Kauaʻi later using the same trigger — the imminent arrival of hurricane-force winds. Any activation would be announced through the County’s emergency notification system and local media.

The outdoor warning siren network is one of the components in a layered suite of public notification and warning tools. KEMA has already leveraged the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts System, the Alert Kaua‘i platform, County of Kaua‘i social media, press releases, highway/roadway electronic message boards, along with interviews and live press conferences.

Residents on Kauaʻi should not wait for a siren to take action. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for all of Kauaʻi County, and preparations to protect life and property should already be complete. Residents are urged to stay off the roads, remain sheltered in place, and monitor conditions.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up for the County’s emergency notification system, Everbridge, to receive alerts by phone, text, and email. To register, visit www.kauai.gov/kema and click on “Notification Services.”

Other important numbers and resources:

• Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency: kauai.gov/KEMA
• National Weather Service: weather.gov/hfo or 808-245-6001
• Kauaʻi Department of Water: 808-245-5400 or kauaiwater.org
• Road and closure conditions: 808-241-1725
• For life-threatening emergencies, always call 9-1-1. For non-emergency assistance, please call Kauaʻi Police Department Dispatch at 808-241-1711.
• For ocean safety information, please visit safebeachday.com or call the Kauaʻi Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.
• To sign up for emergency notifications through Everbridge, please visit www.kauai.gov/kema and click on “Notification Services.”