Part 3/14:
One of the most emotionally charged moments she discusses is the Hawaii missile scare in early 2018. An accidental alert falsely warned millions of Hawaii residents that a ballistic missile was inbound, prompting panic and chaos. Gabbard, onsite in Washington, immediately contacted the state’s civil defense official to confirm the mistake before broadcasting the false alarm to the public. Many families experienced terror—some contemplating last moments with loved ones, others unsure whether to flee east or west. The incident exposed vulnerabilities in the state’s alert system, prompting urgent reforms to prevent future tragedies.