During the peaceful morning of Jan. 13, 2018, Hawai’i residents were startled by a ballistic missile warning sent to their mobile devices. It has been a little over two months since that false alert, and I hope that the majority of Hawai’i has made the best out of the false missile.
Being the closest state to North Korea, besides Alaska, the event of a ballistic missile targeted for our islands is a realistic one. Apart from the chaos and safety issues that occurred the day of the missile warning, I’m glad for the occurrence of the false alert because it forced me to stop and think about what I’d do in that type of situation. After I had gotten word that the missile warning was fake, I asked myself, no matter where I am, am I prepared? The answer to that question was no, but I’ve taken the time to ensure that I am prepared. For example, I now have bottles of water, granola bars, and other simple survival items packed in my car so that if something happens, I’ll be able to live in my car for about a week. I’ve also ensured that at my church, dance studio, and home there are emergency preparedness kits to keep me and my peers safe. In the event that an emergency occurs at school, I suggest that each classroom be stocked with food and water to last at least three days.
People only panic when they aren’t prepared. Although the ballistic missile warning alarmed many citizens, we need to make the best out of that situation and use it to prevent panic within ourselves and our communities in the future.