Where to Go, What to Do

Blast and fallout map, 150kt weapon.

(Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency)

Copyright © 2018

By Ralph F. Couey

On January 13th of this year, the people of Hawai'i were subjected to 47 minutes of terror, thanks to an erroneous posting of an EAS (Emergency Alert System) text message announcing that ballistic missiles were on their way.  What ensued were numerous acts of  mindless panic as people raced around preparing for the end.  As I noted in that post, people panicked because they didn't know where to go or what to do.  The state government worked hard to inform residents and visitors on actions to be taken during a tsunami or hurricane warning.  But nobody had undertaken the task of teaching folks where to go and what to do in case of a pending nuclear attack.  Those very politicians who were elbowing each other aside in order to position themselves in front of television cameras had utterly failed to teach their constituents how to plan and what to do to protect themselves.

Some may argue that it isn't the responsibility of politicians to do this kind of thing.  I beg to differ.  I grew up during the worst years of the Cold War.  My parents and I had numerous conversations about that nebulous "what might happen if" so even at the tender age of seven years old, I knew what I needed to do if those sirens began to sound.  I clearly remember our U.S. Congressman coming to my elementary school at least three times to tell us that inside our school was the best and safest place  to be, and if the alert happened, we needed to stay there because our parents knew we would be safe.   I also knew, thanks to comprehensive television and film programs which were shown regularly on local stations and at school what I was to do if I was at home, or even out riding my bicycle.  Because I had been trained and informed, I was never afraid of the "what if" or panicked when one day an alert was mistakenly sent out.  

We were tougher kids back then.  Our parents didn't shield us from knowledge of the dangers, sensing that we would be better able to function if we knew what to do.  Today, the parents of what is becoming known as the "Snowflake Generation" have so insulated their kids from the real world that they can't even listen to a differing opinion, let alone a pending disaster, without plunging deep into PTSD.

So, you ask, why am I writing about this again some ten months later?  Earlier this week, the North Korean government announced the testing of "an ultra-modern tactical weapon."  While such a weapon poses no threat to anyone outside of a battlefield, Hawai'i is still in range of North Korean missiles.  This is what sparked the angst last January.  

Back in Hawai'i to live now, I was interested to observe that this dire pronouncement caused not even a ripple in the local news pond.  A cynic might point out that for the local Democrat-dominated political gentry, the only real enemy is one D. Trump, Esq, the current occupant of that stately residence on Pennsylvania Avenue.  So consumed with their hate, anger, and vitriol towards Trump and his party, it appears that North Korea seems to have fallen off their radar.  Consequently, the people of this, the 50th State are no better informed or educated now than they were 10 months ago.  Having failed them once, their government is positioned to fail them again.

Politicians, generally speaking, do not solve problems.  If they solve a problem, then they lose the issue upon which to run a campaign.  One gets far more PR mileage harping about an issue than one gets kudos for fixing the problem driving the issue.  Also, if the issue isn't on the radar of the local media community, it generally isn't being acted on politically.  The dangers surrounding a possible nuclear attack would seem to me to be higher on the local priority list given what almost happened last January.  

My biggest beef with that whole situation was that during any other kind of possible danger, tsunami, hurricane, etc., people here know what to do.  But there is still now no active education ongoing about how to prepare and what to do during a nuclear attack alert.  In January, there were reports of people speeding down city streets at triple-digit speeds, ignoring traffic signals and laws.  Others were lowering their children into storm drains.  Drivers stopped their cars on one of the busiest freeways on O'ahu, getting out of their cars and running into tunnels.  No one was killed or even injured during these activities, for which I am thankful to kind and beneficent providence.  That may not happen next time.

The situation can be made much safer simply by informing the public.  Parents, if your keikis are in school, leave them there.  Nearly all school buildings are much better shelter than the single wall structure that is your residence.  You need to look around and decide that maybe you're much safer where you are than putting yourself and others at mortal risk by speeding to anyplace else.  Storm drains may be attractive, but know that they can fill up rapidly if it should start to rain, putting your kids at risk of drowning.  Stopping on a freeway and taking to foot is one of the fastest and most sure ways to cause your exit from this life.  Do you have a month of food and water in your pantry?  Encased in containers that will not become radioactive?  Are you prepared to be utterly on your own for at least that long of a time?

Educating people is what government does best.  By telling people ahead of time how to prepare and behave more lives can be saved, not just during a real attack, but during a false alarm.  It remains to be seen if Hawai'i leaders can tear themselves away from the destruction of Donald Trump and focus on making plans to save the lives of their constituents.  It is time for them to be leaders.