Hawaiian Tsunami Drill Takes Off: Local Planes, Rehearsing Disaster Like a Broadway Show!
The Great Hawaiian Aerial Announcement Spectacle
In what can only be described as an audacious symphony of aviation and loudspeakers, the Hawaii Wing embarked on a grand spectacle of airborne alerts on July 29 following whispers of an 8.7-magnitude earthquake off Kamchatka, Russia. The melodious cacophony, intended to cajole coastal communities into action, was none other than a tsunami warning—a mere suggestion to vacate to higher ground.
By 2:52 p.m., the sky was a theatrical display of efficiency as nine aircraft took to the airwaves, joining a statewide cast of emergency agencies in a blockbuster drama of coordination. Featuring a supporting cast of three dozen Civil Air Patrol members from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island, this skyscape opera involved 15 intriguingly repetitive flights over more than 15 hours—a spectacle worthy of the finest aviation aficionados.
Each aircraft, a mobile concert hall of siren systems, wove through the air with predetermined coastal flight paths, broadcasting the show’s pièce de résistance: “Tsunami warning. Evacuate all low-lying areas until all clear is given.” This resonant refrain echoed throughout Hawaii, charming residents and visitors alike to reconsider their low-lying vacation choices.
Beyond the primary act of airborne alerts, this production additionally demonstrated logistical expertise rarely seen in the wild: the relocation of aircraft and vehicles to higher ground for dramatic effect. Civil Air Patrol members seamlessly transitioned into their roles as providers of ground transportation for their aviating colleagues and maestros of vehicle relocation. They also managed to converse amicably with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and county civil defense officials—no small feat in the realm of interagency coordination.
“Civil Air Patrol is proud to serve as a supporting cast in emergencies like this,” declared Lt. Col. Dana McLaughlin, the wing’s acclaimed director of emergency services and esteemed incident commander for the mission. “Our members are trained and ready to support Hawaii’s first responders at a moment’s notice, both in the air and on the ground,” McLaughlin added, with rehearsed enthusiasm.