Umatilla, Morrow still waiting for depot kits

This story was published Thu, Jan 14, 1999

By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Oregon bureau

PATERSON - On Wednesday, residents here got what folks in Umatilla and Morrow counties have wanted for a long time -duct tape, plastic and a little peace of mind.

The duct tape and plastic sheeting are part of the so-called shelter-in-place kits, designed for nearby residents to use as the first line of defense against a lethal nerve agent leak at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

And while Benton County residents can now rest a little easier, citizens of Umatilla and Morrow county, who live closest to the depot, have yet to get their hands on the kits.

Morrow County residents are better off than their neighbors because their shelter-in-place kits have been assembled and are in Portland ready to be delivered.

In Umatilla County, however, the kits haven't even been ordered.

"The bottom line of the whole thing is the cities closest to the depot are not getting what they need," complained Hermiston Mayor Frank Harkenrider. "We're getting shortchanged, and it's not right."

Umatilla Mayor George Hash agreed. "Somebody's dropped the ball," he said. "This has been a sore spot in my craw for a long time."

Across the river, Benton County Emergency Management officials received 700 shelter-in-place kits at Christmastime. Emergency managers decided to hand the kits out - with a how to shelter in place video - during a public meeting Wednesday night at the Paterson School. More kits will be handed out at 7 p.m. today at the Plymouth School.

The kits are made up of a roll of duct tape, some plastic sheeting and a pair of scissors. Should a chemical accident occur, residents are supposed to pick a room in their house and use the plastic and tape to seal windows, doors and other openings where air might seep in.

But Mary Anne Wuennecke, public information officer for Benton County Emergency Management, explained that residents in the county's southern end will be told to evacuate if a chemical accident occurs, not shelter in place. Wuennecke said the kits are being handed out merely as backup in case some residents can't leave their homes.

"We want people to have some of the supplies on hand and be ready if that were the case," Wuennecke said.

Residents in Umatilla and Morrow counties will more than likely be given opposite instructions, with emergency officials recommending people shelter in place if an accident occurs at the depot.

The fact that the depot-area citizens don't have the basic tools to react to a chemical accident while residents to the north already have backup plans in place further vexes city leaders in Eastern Oregon.

"It seems like we are the last in line," said Echo Mayor Jeannette Bell. "Yes, we are definitely behind schedule."

Umatilla's Mayor Hash said the federal government allocated money to buy the shelter kits last spring. He worries the money will disappear if it's not spent soon.

"And we're in the most critical areas - Umatilla and Irrigon are the most critical areas of this whole operation," Hash said.

Tom Groat, who supervises emergency operations for Umatilla County, said city officials are overreacting. For one thing, the allocation of federal money is good for five years. And, he said, it certainly won't take that long to have the kits handed out.

The holdup has been that Umatilla County emergency managers wanted the shelter-in-place kits to be "more flexible" and big enough to hold duct tape, plastic, snack foods, books and board games, Groat said.

Since the county wants another type of shelter-in-place kit, it has to put the proposal to assemble the kits out for bid again. Umatilla County already rejected two previous bids, Groat said.

"We're taking another look at the whole project, but we're planning to move ahead sooner rather than later," Groat said.

In Morrow County, 1,200 shelter-in-place kits worth about $18,000 are expected to arrive shortly from Portland. Dan Knoll, public information officer for Morrow County's emergency management department, said he is making arrangements with the Army to have the kits stored at the depot until county officials can distribute them.

The kits for Morrow County contain duct tape, plastic, scissors, a towel to put under a door to keep out air, weather stripping and a light outlet sealer. Knoll also plans on handing out videos so people will know how to use the kits.

When and how the kits will be delivered is up in the air, Knoll said.

"We might end up going door to door. We just don't know yet. It's still in the planning stage," Knoll said.

 

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