FEMA hires depot public information officer

This story was published Fri, Jan 8, 1999

By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - To boost emergency preparedness efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has hired a new public information officer to focus on education and planning in case of a nerve agent leak from the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

Jesse Seigal became FEMA's regional public information officer for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program on Dec. 7.

Though he will be based in Bothell, Wash., Seigal said he will make trips to the Hermiston area two to three times a month to "work alongside state and local and Army officials getting information out to the public."

"It's critical information that the public know how to protect themselves and know what to do," Seigal said in a phone interview Thursday. "That's what partnership is all about."

Seigal said he sees two elements to his new role - public education and public information. Of those two, he said public education might be more important because that's the phase where people must learn to be prepared.

"Awareness of the chemical program and knowing there is a risk even if it's a small risk - the public needs to know that and what to do in case there is an accident," Seigal said.

Seigal said he's not too concerned that his new role might sometimes be controversial. FEMA, which distributes money to CSEPP and helps oversee the emergency preparedness program, has been criticized over the years for moving slowly in preparing communities surrounding Hermiston with materials needed in a chemical disaster.

"It's a complex program and any project of this size will have growing pains," Seigal said. "But there are opportunities there as well. The bottom line is that we have a public that understands the nature of the risk, what the program is about and with confidence knows what to do. That's what everybody in this pro gram's ultimate objective is."

Before taking over as regional informational officer, Seigal worked for two years as a FEMA disaster assistant, getting information out to disaster victims. His last assignment was Hurricane George, where he worked with officials for Alabama's emergency management office.

"You leave your family for weeks or months at a time, but it's an important position. People need the information," Seigal said.

Prior to being a disaster assistant, Seigal was a public information officer for the Army.

 

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