What To Do If North Korea Attacks Hawaii

Do you know what to do if North Korea's head nutjob, Kim Jong-un, gets even crazier and gives the order to send missiles (nukes or otherwise) to the Hawaiian Islands? We'll cover what to do in various situations below but you'll also want to read up on Emergency Preparedness in general and make sure you're storing plenty of food, water, and supplies as outlined in that article.

How To Know If North Korea Is Attacking Hawaii

First up, it's important to know the warning signs for an imminent attack on Hawaii by North Korea (also known as the DPRK). According to the Hawaii State Department of Defense, the major warning triggers will be one or more of the following:

Attack Warning Signals Sound
These will be very loud, audible warning sounds using the existing Tsunami siren system throughout the islands. The actual sound will be different from the warning of an incoming tsunami.

Emergency Alert System
Expect alerts to flood a variety of radio, television, and other forms of communication using the EAS system.

Wireless Emergency Alert
The WEA will send wireless alerts to cellular phones to alert millions of people in the islands.

Bright Light - An incredibly bright flash of light being observed could be a bomb exploding in the distance. Never look at the light!

How Long Will We Have Before North Korea's Bombs Get To Hawaii?

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) becomes aware of missiles launched from North Korea (and elsewhere) within seconds of their launch. It only takes them a few seconds to determine their trajectory as well. They then decide if they will use counter measures, like the THAAD anti-missile system, to try and shoot down the missiles that were launched (if they pose a threat to the USA and its allies).

What To Do If North Korea Sends Bombs To Hawaii

Image credit: State of Hawaii Department of Defense

Hawaii doesn't have any fallout shelters so now is the time to put as much concrete, brick, and reinforced material between you and the potential explosion coming your way. If you are attempting to call your friends and family you may find that cellular connections are clogged as everyone tries to do the same. Considering sending text messages instead which sometimes have a better chance of getting through.

According to the Hawaii State Department of Defence, and as shown in the picture above, here is the suggested actions to take:

Get Inside
If you are inside, stay there and stay away from windows. If you are outside, find immediate shelter in a building. Ideally, one made of concrete like a commercial building or parking structure. If you are driving, safely pull over and seek shelter. If no shelter is available, lie flat on the ground in the safest place you can find. Never look at the bright flash of an explosion.

Stay Inside
Remain sheltered until you are told it is safe to leave or 14 days have passed, whichever comes first. You may be advised that it is safe to leave for short periods of time to find food, water, and medical care. Reading up on Emergency Preparedness now is suggested. Electrical, water, and other utilities (Internet, etc) may be interrupted or completely unavailable for a long period of time.

Stay Tuned
Keep an ear on AM/FM radio, check cell phones if you can get a connection, and try your TV for updates. Remember, some or all of these services may be disrupted. We recommend buying an emergency radio #ad now so you are prepared, and possibly some walkie-talkie style radios #ad to communicate with your family.