NOW THIS IS SERIOUS – AT 12:54 P.M. ET:   The federal government has now investigated the recent "false" alert in Hawaii.  The conclusion is startling, and disturbing.  From Fox: 

The Hawaii employee who issued a ballistic missile alert to residents — causing mass panic for nearly 40 minutes earlier this month — intentionally sent the message thinking the island was being attacked, the FCC said Tuesday in a stunning reversal after officials had insisted the alert was the result of a mistaken keystroke.

In a written statement, the employee, who was not identified, said he believed there was a real emergency on Jan. 13 after hearing a recording that stated “THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” But the employee did not hear the first half of the message that stated “EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE,” the FCC said in its preliminary report Tuesday. Though the recording also ended with the "EXERCISE" message, the officer did not hear it.

“While other warning officers understand that this is a drill, the warning officer at the alert origination terminal claimed to believe, in a written statement provided to HI-EMA [Emergency Management Agency] that this was a real emergency, not a drill,” the FCC said.

The employee followed emergency protocol and transmitted the “live incoming ballistic missile alert to the State of Hawaii,” selecting “yes” when reaching a page asking: “Are you sure that you want to send this Alert?”

The FCC said the incident was caused by a "miscommunication" during a shift change between the overnight and day crews. Three other officers reported hearing the "exercise" portion of the message.  

COMMENT:  That is chilling.  Clearly, retraining is required.  But also required is a top-to-bottom review of all procedures, and the operation of all equipment.  While it's highly unlikely that someone could start a war with a false alert, "highly unlikely" is too low a standard when dealing with nuclear weapons.

Post-accident reports by the National Transportation Safety Board have resulted in major improvements to air safety.  We expect the same kind of response and thoroughness on this occasion.

January 30, 2018