HERMISTON – Residences and businesses around the Hermiston will begin receiving tone alert radios next week.

Radio Service Company will complete distribution in and around the Umatilla, and near the southeast corner of the Umatilla Chemical Depot over the next several days. Distribution will then begin in sector C – Hermiston.

Residents and business owners in those areas or who received a pink tag on their door should call 800-307-7708 to request delivery.

The radios are designed to alert people who are indoors in the unlikely event of a chemical release from the depot.

Sector C includes Hermiston and is bounded on the west by the Umatilla River north to Punkin Center Road, then east to Ott Road, then south to Feedville Road, then west back to the Umatilla River. Residents and businesses in Sector C will be receiving the radios over the next 12 weeks, and people shouldn’t be concerned if they don’t get one during the first few weeks.

Radio Service Company will install these special strobes or Braille kits in locations where requested as the strobe kits become available.

Sector G continues to receive radios. Sector G includes Irrigon and surrounding areas in Morrow County, and an area from Paterson Ferry Road east to the Umatilla County line. The northern border is the Columbia River. The southern border is Interstate 84.

Oregon residents will be contacted door-to-door weekday evenings until 9 p.m. and on weekends. Businesses should expect installers during business hours. Installers wear special reflective vests and company identification badges.

If a Radio Services Company identification badge is not readily apparent, people should ask to inspect the badge before admitting the individual. Citizens should not allow unidentified strangers into homes or businesses.

Before departing the premises, installers will cover radio operation and provide an informational pamphlet about the TAR printed in both English and Spanish. Linguists are available to assist if Spanish is the primary language spoken.

Citizens may call toll free (800) 307-7708 if they have questions about the delivery schedule or the TAR itself.