Posted at 4:40 p.m., Friday, October 20, 2006
State civil defense urges communications fixes
Advertiser Staff
Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, director of state Civil Defense, said he supports suggestions by Mayor Mufi Hannemann to improve emergency communications in the wake of Sunday's earthquakes and power outage.He also said the state should have sent out a transmission to radio stations after the earthquakes. The city tried to send out a message on the Emergency Alert System but was not successful.
"We should have backed up the city and all the counties to make sure that message got out," Lee said, in a news conference this afternoon.
This morning, Hannemann said the city is trying to get permission from the state to be able to access the Emergency Alert System on its own authority, instead of having to follow state protocol.
Lee said the city already has full access to the system, but added he will work to make sure city officials are properly trained on the program.
