Kulongoski praises depot on state tour

This story was published Sat, Dec 21, 2002

By Karen Spears Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON -- Oregon Gov.-elect Ted Kulongoski praised Army officials and emergency response officials after touring the Umatilla Chemical Depot on Friday.

"I do believe this is the ground floor of ... Homeland Security in Oregon," Kulongoski said.

It was his first look at the installation where thousands of tons of chemical weapons are stored.

Like the motorists who pass by the depot site along Interstate 84, Kulongoski said he was unaware of the vast incineration complex that has been constructed to burn the chemical agents.

"Having been in the military, I'd drive by and see it as a military installation," he said.

Kulongoski said he came away impressed with the professionalism of depot commander Lt. Col. Fred Pellissier and the staff at Washington Demilitarization Co.

"I have every confidence that they can do what they say they can do," he said.

But what Kulongoski was most impressed with was the multiagency coordination of the emergency first-responders in the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

"The state has to start looking at this" as it adopts Homeland Security plans, Kulongoski said.

"Your fire chief and medical community are already on the ground," he added.

He reiterated the need for state and counties to work with the military because in the unlikely event of a chemical emergency it would take all players to handle the situation. And, he added, Oregon has got to start putting money toward helping the counties develop Homeland Security preparedness programs.

"The state's relationship with the county is critical to us because if something happens, we all need to be prepared," Kulongoski said.

Morrow County Emergency Manager Casey Beard is one of several emergency officials who said they are anxious to see the state more actively involved in preparedness issues. "We are a model for the nation on how to respond to a chemical event," Beard said.

And Hermiston Fire Chief Jim Stearns told Kulongoski the potential of an accident at the depot site, where 3,717 tons of VX, sarin and blister agent are stored, has forced the region's emergency planners to pull together.

"I have great interest in your successes," Kulongoski said.

 

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