East Oregonian
November 25, 2002

CSEPP pushes preparedness

By the EAST OREGONIAN

Pendleton - Families need to prepare for emergencies by developing family disaster plans. And once developed, they need to practice them.

That's the theme of this month's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program media campaign.

One way to practice home preparedness in case of an emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, or natural disasters such windstorms, floods or fires, is for family members to do monthly drills similar to a school fire drill.

Area schools regularly practice shelter-in-place and evacuation drills similar to fire drills. Families can do similar drills when the Umatilla Chemical Depot conducts its quarterly ,preparedness drills.

CSEPP officials are teaming up with American Red Cross officials to help families develop their home disaster plans. To find out more, call Oregon CSEPP at 1-877-367-2737, Washington CSEPP at 1-800-841-7953 or access these web pages: www.csepp.net or www.PrepareForLife.org

Families with individual questions about preparedness in the event of a chemical emergency should call the Umatilla, Morrow and Benton County public information officers, Cheryl Humphrey, Maureen Roxbury and Korenza Trujillo respectively at ,966-3703, 481-3424 and (509) 628-2600.

This month's theme is part of an ongoing media campaign to acquaint residents living around the Umatilla Chemical Depot on how to prepare for chemical or other emergencies. The campaign, in its second year, features a different topic each month.

Periodic public opinion surveys conducted by a polling firm indicate that public knowledge of emergency preparedness in the local area has increased, according to CSEPP.