The failure of sirens during weekend tsunami alert, triggered more attention to the regularly scheduled drills

Most of the city’s 180 emergency sirens went off as planned, during the monthly 11:45 a.m. drill.

 "I was working on my computer and I heard the siren right on time,” said Kaimuki resident Arlene Liao.

 By the end of the day, the city says it received 11 reports of non-functioning sirens.

In East Honolulu, there were reports of problems in Kaimuki, and Kuliouou. On the west side there were reports from Ewa, Waianae and Makakilo.

 “All of the sirens that will be identified Thursday, and over the next few days will be tagged by inspections by our city, or state workers.  If there are repairs needed, that will be expedited,” said John Cunnings, public information officer for the city Department of Emergency Management.

 City emergency responders met today to review what went right, and what went wrong.

The message the city wants to hammer in is that just because the first wave is a small one, doesn't mean the threat is over.

 “Look at the Big Island in 2011. The tenth wave was the largest, and we were only in the first wave and people were saying 'it is not going to happen.’ It could have been significant," said City Emergency Management Director, Mel Kaku.

 On Saturday, many people on Oahu’s west side complained they were not allowed to return when it appeared the threat was over.