American
Red Cross volunteer Jan Kinsella of Spokane mans the radio system inside the
Emergency Communications Response Vehicle outside of the Umatilla County Justice
Center during Tuesday’s CSEPP drill. Staff photo by Roger Harnack
PENDLETON — Local, state,
regional and federal officials gathered at the Umatilla County Justice Building
on Tuesday evening to monitor the mock explosion at Umatilla Chemical Depot
and efforts to disseminate pertinent information quickly.
Deputies guarded the building, keeping mock media at bay and directing
them to an information center and press room. There, officials representing
the agencies greeted media and answered questions.
According to Umatilla County Emergency Operations Supervisor Tom
Groat, “thousands” of journalists would flood Pendleton if there were a major,
“world-class” incident at the Depot.
Umatilla County Emergency Manager Meg Capps worked with a variety
of federal agencies to keep tabs on the unfolding mock emergency, and Umatilla
County CSEPP public information officer Cheryl Seigal directed the joint
information center, seeing to it that mock media had access to the information
they needed to help protect area residents.
Umatilla County Planning Department employee Julie Alford was also
part of the effort, uploading real-time data to a CSEPP computer system that
allowed agencies as far away as Washington, D.C., to keep up with the mock
emergency as it unfolded.
Local amateur radio operators Mike Duffy and Lynn Wilson provided
another communications link to officials monitoring the event.
Outside, the American Red Cross Emergency Communications Response
Vehicle also provided communication links. “We can be up and running and
connected to D.C. from a half-hour to an hour,” volunteer Dave Hill of Palouse,
Wash., said. “Today, Jan (Kinsella) had us up in five minutes.”
Kinsella, of Spokane, and Hill volunteer to operate the Spokane-based
vehicle.
Across town, the Salvation Army was doing it’s part by providing
food and shelter for mock victims.
“We can hold up to 100 clients,” shelter manager Troy Jerome said,
noting there are waiting rooms, family services, a cafeteria and sleeping
area in the Emigrant Avenue shelter. Jerome, Pilot Rock High School’s leadership
teacher, and his students staff the shelter each year.
The shelter, along with several others, took in evacuees who did
not need medical treatment. That determination was made at Wildhorse Resort
and Casino, which served as a welcome station for the first time. Tribal
police and fire officials as well as resort employees participated.
“The evacuees were screened by the Red Cross and then moved to our
bingo hall to be registered,” Wildhorse spokesman Charles Denight said. “The
Red Cross put their names and other info up on a national Web site.”
The evacuees then were transported to one of the Red Cross shelters,
to stay with family or friends, or to St. Anthony Hospital.
St. Anthony was the decontamination center for the east end of the
county. Staci Buchanon, director of marketing and communications, said the
hospital’s role was a small part of what makes the exercise important.
