Residents tired of depot program

This story was published Wed, Jan 12, 2000

By Terry Hudson
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - One sentiment Stephanie Hallock can take back to Gov. John Kitzhaber for certain is that area residents are incensed.

More than 200 people converged Tuesday night on the Hermiston Community Center to let the governor's aide know their feelings after the Dec. 30 accidental activation of the Umatilla Chemical Depot's emergency sirens.

The depot's neighbors wasted no time in venting their feelings during the open microphone session.

Steve Zielinski gave a lengthy speech calling for medical monitors in communities near the chemical weapons site.

"There are a lot of places I can live, but I happen to like these people," Zielinski said as he turned toward the audience and fought back tears. "If you harm one hair on their head through negligence or stupidity, there isn't a hole big enough for you to hide. I will find you."

Shelly Ehrmantraut of Umatilla said her husband and children were out of the house when the sirens sounded.

"I was left at home wondering if they were going to be OK," Ehrmantraut said. "I turned on the TV and radio, and in 30 minutes I didn't hear a thing. I was left praying for the best. They want us to trust them, but right now I have no trust for them."

At the start of Tuesday's public forum, Hallock made it clear she expected to hear from some angry people.

"In failing to provide a functioning emergency response system, all of government has let you down," Hallock said. "Whether we are federal, state, county or city government, we all bear responsibility for the terror, confusion and frustration that some of you experienced when the sirens went off inappropriately over the holidays.

"As chief executive officer of the state of Oregon, the governor sends his sincere apologies on behalf of all government to the citizens of Umatilla and Morrow counties in Oregon and Benton County in Washington. We will do better."

But many local residents are just plain tired of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program and of listening to the officials involved, no matter what level of government they represent.

CSEPP is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Oregon Emergency Management is responsible for maintenance and operations of the warning system, and counties are responsible for informing the public and making decisions on activating the systems.

Many people have come to the conclusion that there are too many agencies involved.

"I called the police and asked if this was a drill and they said, 'I don't know; we hope so,' " said Hermiston's Mark Severson. "That's a hell of an answer to hear. I have never been so disgusted with the government than I am right now."

Earlier in the day, Hallock met at the Pendleton Justice Center with dozens of local elected officials and representatives from state, county and city agencies.

Umatilla County Commissioner Dennis Doherty has suggested more local control over the system and less reliance on Oregon Emergency Management and FEMA.

The six commissioners from Umatilla and Morrow counties recently have placed a three-week moratorium on interagency CSEPP meetings.

"We have people down there that were scared to death," Doherty said during the Pendleton meeting. "They put their faith in us and they believe it's a life and death matter that they get prompt, intelligent information. I have resolved that it's not going to be business as usual."

But Hallock's statements seemed to indicate that the governor's office is seeking to mollify the players involved and to get on with business as usual.

"The governor is committed to destroying these chemical weapons as soon as possible," Hallock said. "He asks that you focus on the future and not on the past. There is lots of collective brain power in this room. If these people can't figure out how to deliver the best warning system, I don't know who can."

But emergency officials will have to do more that offer reassurances, said Irrigon Mayor Linda Fox.

Fox said Irrigon residents lost faith in the system after they tuned into the radio station during the alarm activation - as they have been instructed to do - but no information was forthcoming.

"People have started to ignore the warnings, and now they're starting to laugh at them," Fox said. "If there were an incident now, I believe there would be a lot of dead people."

 

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