Tick Tock Of Terror: Timeline Of False Missile Alert

The sequence of events involving the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's infamous Saturday morning.
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8:07 a.m. — A worker mistakenly hits the button to send the emergency warning reading: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

Last fall, Vern Miyagi, head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, gave a presentation to Hawaii residents on how to prepare for a nuclear blast. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

8:20 a.m. — The Emergency Management Agency issues public notification of cancellation on Facebook and Twitter.

8:24 a.m. — Gov. David Ige retweets the cancellation notice.

8:30 a.m. — Federal Emergency Management Agency officials say they received a call from Hawaii seeking guidance on sending correction of alert. They did not say how long the call lasted. Ige posts cancellation notice on his Facebook page.

8:45 a.m. — Cancellation of warning sent to cellphones: “There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm.” The state said it issued the cancellation after getting authorization from FEMA. However, FEMA said its approval was not required.

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