Hawaii Emergency Alert saga continues

During the investigation, Oliveira said the employee, who had worked at the agency for more than 10 years, had a history of confusing drills and real-world events. In fact, the worker had made similar mistakes twice before, officials said.

  Fox

Yeah, that's not good. Any real consequences this time?

The head of Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency has resigned and the employee who issued a ballistic missile alert to residents -- causing mass panic for nearly 40 minutes earlier this month -- has been terminated, officials said.

[...]

One employee also resigned prior to disciplinary actions being taken and authorities are in the process of suspending another worker without pay, Logan said.

I think every has agreed on that. And I still can't understand how that employee had the authority to send out the alert. Even if that employee had never had any problems before, wouldn't it be a good idea to have to clear such an action with at least one other person?

After the mistake was realized, the employee reportedly “froze” and “seemed confused,” forcing another worker to take over and send a correction, Oliveira said.

That I can believe.

“I do want to say it is astounding that no one was hurt in this accident,” FCC Commissioner Mike O'Reilly said. “This could have been a catastrophe.”

In a way, Hawaiians were lucky. They were getting warning. (Even if that warning, like Orson Welles' infamous radio show, might have led to some traumatic experiences and maybe even deaths.) Arkansans in 1980 didn't get such consideration. Watch Command and Control some time if you want to see what catastrophe this kind of situation could really precipitate. You'll never feel secure again. Never mind North Korea, it's a wonder we haven't blown ourselves up.

 ...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.