On the morning of January thirteenth, two thousand eighteen, residents of Hawaii received a message no one ever wants to see on their phones. “Emergency Alert: Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” Within seconds, panic swept across the islands like wildfire. People sprinted through hotel lobbies. Families huddled under staircases. Drivers abandoned their cars on the highway in frantic efforts to find safety. Those watching TV or listening to the radio heard more terrifying instructions: stay indoors, get away from windows, seek shelter in any building, or lay flat if outside. For thirty-eight minutes, they believed the end was near.
