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Hawaiians React to a False Alarm of an Impending Attack In Hawaii, Reacting to a False Alarm of an Attack
(35 minutes later)
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Re “Panic in Hawaii as Missile Alert Is Sent in Error” (front page, Jan. 14): I live in Hawaii, and Saturday was the most frightening day of my life.Re “Panic in Hawaii as Missile Alert Is Sent in Error” (front page, Jan. 14): I live in Hawaii, and Saturday was the most frightening day of my life.
Imagine learning that you have only minutes to live. I texted my family that I loved them because the cell service was overloaded and I couldn’t get a call out.Imagine learning that you have only minutes to live. I texted my family that I loved them because the cell service was overloaded and I couldn’t get a call out.
Gov. David Y. Ige’s comment that “many people in our community were deeply affected” is an understatement. Everyone was terrified. It took 38 minutes before another alert that it was a false alarm.Gov. David Y. Ige’s comment that “many people in our community were deeply affected” is an understatement. Everyone was terrified. It took 38 minutes before another alert that it was a false alarm.
I have no faith or confidence in the Trump administration; an early White House statement that called it an “exercise” is inexcusable.I have no faith or confidence in the Trump administration; an early White House statement that called it an “exercise” is inexcusable.
I plead with Congress to stop Donald Trump before he gets us all killed. It is too bad that none of his congressional supporters were here to experience the idea that we were going to die.I plead with Congress to stop Donald Trump before he gets us all killed. It is too bad that none of his congressional supporters were here to experience the idea that we were going to die.
Saturday was real. I don’t know if we will ever fully recover.Saturday was real. I don’t know if we will ever fully recover.
L. A. WEBB, KEALAKEKUA, HAWAIIL. A. WEBB, KEALAKEKUA, HAWAII
To the Editor:To the Editor:
I live in Honolulu. On Saturday morning I received a ballistic-missile attack alert over my cellphone in a hospital near downtown, along with staff members on the floor. There was nothing that we could do except to hope that it was a mistake.I live in Honolulu. On Saturday morning I received a ballistic-missile attack alert over my cellphone in a hospital near downtown, along with staff members on the floor. There was nothing that we could do except to hope that it was a mistake.
No one was rattled. People went about their ordinary business. I called my loved ones, and we all tried to get information.No one was rattled. People went about their ordinary business. I called my loved ones, and we all tried to get information.
We are the early warning system for the mainland but are inadequately protected ourselves. My only emotion this morning was not fear. It was outrage. The idea that nuclear war is an “option” is insane.We are the early warning system for the mainland but are inadequately protected ourselves. My only emotion this morning was not fear. It was outrage. The idea that nuclear war is an “option” is insane.
JEAN E. ROSENFELD, HONOLULUJEAN E. ROSENFELD, HONOLULU
To the Editor:To the Editor:
My wife and I grew up in the days of “duck and cover,” so we’re both perhaps a little jaded when it comes to bomb alerts. We retired to Hawaii, but we still have some of that skeptical attitude so characteristic of the big cities on the mainland.My wife and I grew up in the days of “duck and cover,” so we’re both perhaps a little jaded when it comes to bomb alerts. We retired to Hawaii, but we still have some of that skeptical attitude so characteristic of the big cities on the mainland.
When I received the alert on my phone, I turned it off without even reading it. My wife read her alert when it came up on her phone, but she just dismissed it.When I received the alert on my phone, I turned it off without even reading it. My wife read her alert when it came up on her phone, but she just dismissed it.
It turned out that we were right in being nonchalant, but that does not diminish the seriousness of the matter or belittle the reaction of those who responded differently. Others, like those with young children, can’t afford to take chances.It turned out that we were right in being nonchalant, but that does not diminish the seriousness of the matter or belittle the reaction of those who responded differently. Others, like those with young children, can’t afford to take chances.
The error is a wake-up call. We should not bandy about talk of nuclear war as if it wereanother talking point, but should take pause and think before we speak or act. The error is a wake-up call. We should not bandy about talk of nuclear war as if it were another talking point, but should take pause and think before we speak or act.
As for Hawaii, I would hope that the lesson learned is that we should take the proper precautions to prevent a similar fiasco from happening again.As for Hawaii, I would hope that the lesson learned is that we should take the proper precautions to prevent a similar fiasco from happening again.
EDWARD D. LASKY, HONOLULUEDWARD D. LASKY, HONOLULU