According to at least one press report the "Test Alert" and "Send Alert" options were on the SAME dropdown menu. "Test Alert" is apparently part of the standard shift-change procedure, the other has the results we witnessed.
There is a confirmation dialogue, so two actions are required before that actual alert went out - but who among us has not clicked on a confirmation dialogue without actually reading it? I know I have.
If this is the true story, I blame the operator less than the awful interface design. An action done routinely should not be on the same menu of options with one you hope never to have to use.
TWB