Results of CSEPP alert system called mixed

This story was published Sat, Jan 15, 2000

By Terry Hudson
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - A test of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program's Alert and Notification System produced mixed results Friday.

Motivated by the Dec. 30 false alarm that warned area residents of a nonexistent chemical emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, CSEPP and Oregon Emergency Management officials conducted a test of the Whelen console - which is used to activate nearby highway reader boards and sirens.

The test consisted of pushing a button marked C-34, which is supposed to activate a reader board near Boardman.

A similar situation led to last month's false alarm. At that time, a Morrow County CSEPP employee was attempting to activate a Boardman reader board from the Heppner Emergency Operations Center to warn about icy road conditions.

The console tested Friday is at the Umatilla Emergency Operations Center. The same type of control panels are at the depot, the Heppner emergency center and the Hermiston Safety Center.

During Friday's test, the reader board was activated with the correct test message, but two possible glitches were discovered.

Displays on the panel indicated that for a short time it would have been possible to accidentally trigger a warning of a chemical leak simply by pushing the wrong button, said Cheryl Humphrey, a CSEPP spokeswoman.

Also, the "crash phone" that was used for notifications just before the test was done did not ring at the Hermiston Safety Center or the Heppner Emergency Operations Center. Another line makes up the primary system and the crash phone is a secondary notification system.

In a press release Friday, Umatilla County CSEPP officials said they are working with U S West to have the phone problem corrected immediately.

"The live test was successful," Humphrey said. "In the course of the testing, these two other issues were identified."

An independent operation and verification of the entire Alert Notification System is suppose to be performed in the near future. Friday's test was conducted to test part of Umatilla County's Whelen console.

"Our No. 1 priority is the safety of the residents living near the Umatilla Chemical Depot," Meg Capps, Umatilla County's CSEPP program manager said in a written statement.

"We're working as quickly as possible to respond to the public's concerns regarding emergency notification. A lot more has yet to be done, but this is a good start."

 

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