Pendleton, Ore.- It will soon be easier for people who live and work in communities near the Umatilla Chemical Depot to tell the difference between a Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) siren test and a chemical emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

Beginning April 29, the monthly CSEPP siren tests will use a tone called Westminster chimes. The Westminster chimes tone is similar to a grandfather clock or some doorbell chimes, and thus unlikely to cause people to wonder if an emergency is in process. 

In a chemical emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, the sirens would sound use a distinctly different tone.  They would sound a steady warning tone for three-minute minutes straight.  Both the test and the emergency alert tone can be heard at www.csepp.net. Click on the “how would I be warned” icon.

CSEPP sirens located in the emergency response zones surrounding the Umatilla Chemical Depot will all use these same tones. Previously, Oregon and Washington sirens used different tones.  Oregon cities located in the emergency response zones include Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield, Echo, Umatilla, Irrigon, and Boardman.  Washington cities in the emergency response zones are Plymouth and Paterson.

Residents having questions about preparing for emergencies should contact the Umatilla, Morrow and Benton county CSEPP public information officers Cheryl Humphrey, Maureen Roxbury, and Steve Sautter at (541) 966-3703, (541) 481-3424 and (509) 628-2600.

This month’s series of ads is part of an overall paid media campaign to acquaint residents living around the Umatilla Chemical Depot on how to prepare for chemical or other emergencies. This is the third year in which the media campaign has been under way. The campaign features a different topic each month.

Periodic public opinion surveys conducted by a private polling firm indicate public knowledge of emergency preparedness in the local area has increased.