As Flossie Slips Away, Questions Remain on Broadcasters’ Ability to Function in a Crisis

Except for heightened readiness on the Big Island, the state didn’t have its emergency communications apparatus tested much by Hurricane Flossie. No major power outages were reported, and we therefore don’t know whether our broadcast industry has upgraded its capability to remain on the air during blackouts – a test many stations failed last October after the earthquakes.

The State’s Comprehensive Communications Review Committee, which was formed to examine communications failures on Earthquake Sunday and recommend improvements, has been silent for months. The logical conclusion is that it’s doing nothing, and citizens haven’t been told about emergency communications enhancements that will meet our needs during future crises.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s TheBuzz column today does some of the CCRC’s work for it by reporting on upgrades to Big Island radio stations. It’s good to see that New West Broadcasting Corp. now has backup generation installed for its three Hilo radio stations. Let’s hope TheBuzz reports on what Oahu stations have done, because it doesn’t look like we’ll find out from the state’s official communications review body.

Other post-Flossie observations:

• Don’t worry about “crying wolf.” A Honolulu Advertiser story today quotes a Kauai Civil Defense official, “There’s always the fear about crying ‘wolf,’” by issuing so many warnings that people stop responding to them…. Some people will ignore a freight train bearing down on them, but for heavens sake, don’t use them as your litmus test! If a weather or other incident suggests a warning should be sounded, don't play amateur psychologist. Just issue the warning! The majority of the population will thank you for it.

• Oahu Civil Defense has it right. The same story ends with a quote from Oahu’s CD administrator that reveals a mindset that might well be emulated by State Civil Defense, which often gives off the vibe that it can do no wrong. Every storm is a training opportunity, the administrator says. “It’s improving the way we plan. Every time we pull out the contingency plan, we find something and say, ‘Why didn’t we think of that last time?’ And we update the contingency plan.”

Exactly right.