The Hawaii Wing carried out 15 flights broadcasting tsunami warnings to coastal communities throughout the state July 29 after a an 8.7-magnitude earthquake was reported off Kamchatka, Russia, potentially threatening the island chain.
The wing launched nine aircraft at 2:52 p.m. after swiftly joining state and county emergency agencies in a coordinated response. Three dozen Civil Air Patrol members from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island participated. The 15 flights totaled more than 15 hours in the air.
Equipped with loudspeakers and siren systems, CAP aircraft flew predetermined coastal flight paths, broadcasting “Tsunami warning. Evacuate all low-lying areas until all clear is given.”
In addition to alerting residents and visitors in vulnerable coastal zones, the mission was intended to ensure the wing’s operational readiness by relocating aircraft and vehicles to higher ground.
CAP members provided ground transportation for flight crews, assisted in relocating essential vehicles, and coordinated closely with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and county civil defense officials.
“Civil Air Patrol is proud to serve as a force-multiplier in emergencies like this,” said Lt. Col. Dana McLaughlin, the wing’s director of emergency services and 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 said.
While the tsunami threat eventually passed without significant damage, officials emphasized that the coordinated effort demonstrated the importance of readiness, communication, and swift interagency cooperation._____Capt. Janel FujinakaPublic Information Officer Hawaii Wing
