CAMPAIGN AIMS TO READY RESIDENTS FOR POSSIBLE EMERGENCY AT PINE BLUFF ARSENAL

By Bobbie Crockett/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

When it comes to dealing with a possible chemical emergency at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, "the more you know, the better prepared you and your family will be."

That's the message the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) is aiming to get out on radio and television and in print messages.

Done in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the campaign targets people living close to the Arsenal. The facility is one of eight in the nation where chemical weapons are stockpiled.

The announcements are designed to help prepare people in case a chemical accident occurs, said Kelly Robinson, public information officer for the Department of Emergency Management-CSEPP.

"The goal is to educate and better inform people who are living in close proximity to the Pine Bluff Arsenal in case something were to go off post," she said.

Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the $400,000 ad campaign is part of an ongoing community outreach effort, CSEPP officials said.

If a chemical stockpile incident occurred, the public would be notified through sirens, tone alert radios, the Emergency Alert System on television and radio, weather alert radios and local law enforcement.

The campaign comes on the eve of the planned destruction of obsolete chemical munitions at the Arsenal by early 2005.

The messages are based on surveys of residents in a 9.5-mile radius of the Arsenal. Called the "immediate response zone," the area includes communities which are most likely to be affected by an emergency at the Arsenal, such as White Hall, Redfield and Hardin.

The survey found that people were not aware of some information needed to deal with a chemical disaster or other emergency.

For example, it's important for people to know their zone, evacuation route and designated reception center.

Letters A through L identify zones within a 9.5 mile radius. Beyond that, protective action zones are identified with double letters such as AA, AG, AI, BB, BC, etc.

"There are primary and secondary (evacuation) routes for each zone," said Wayne Norton, public information officer for the Jefferson County Office of Emergency management

"If anything should ever happen, we would take a look at how the winds are blowing and announce whether residents should take the primary route or the secondary route," he said.

Or, residents may be asked to shelter in place, Norton said.

"Our mission is to get the word out to people as to what they should do so there's as little confusion as possible," Norton said.

Information to help residents identify their zone is available at www.ArkansasCSEPP.com.

Information is also available on the Arkansas Emergency Preparedness Calendar which is mailed annually to people who live in the immediate response zone and at the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management. A new calendar will be available in September.

CSEPP officials also say parents of school-age children need to know that White Hall schools and others have plans in place to protect children in emergencies.

While officials understand a parent's natural instinct to want to pick up their child at school, they say it's not the best thing to do in case of an incident at the Arsenal. Chances are, a parent wouldn't be able to get through because traffic control points will be set up, officials say.

School children will either be evacuated or sheltered by their schools. Parents can monitor news reports for information about when and where children can be picked up once the emergency is over.

Parents can also register at their designated reception area, Norton said.

The following counties have reception areas in case of an emergency: Arkansas, Cleveland, Dallas, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Prairie, Pulaski and Saline.

Finally, CSEPP officials urge residents near the Arsenal to have an emergency action plan in place. That plan may include having a family disaster kit with such items as water, food and first aid supplies.