Rumors of frustration over tone alert radio distribution were confirmed Thursday night when Meg Capps said she wanted a federal agency to let her know when enough people had their emergency radios.

“I know and understand we can’t reach a 100 percent saturation point, that some people will and have refused a radio,” said Capps, the program manager for Umatilla County Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

The radios are designed to emit a loud tone and instructions during a potential accident at the Umatilla Chemical Depot. Some people have refused the radios, but many buildings have been left with “I.O.U.s” if no one was home while the deliverers came by.

Capps fears that once distribution of nearly 17,000 radios is complete, the homes that were missed will call CSEPP to get them a radio. Only one CSEPP staff member is available for both Umatilla and Morrow counties.

That fear could be well-founded: Jess Seigal, spokesman for the regional Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that in the eight weeks of distribution, about 200 homes and businesses – about 10 percent of distribution – were vacant and still need to schedule appointments to have a radio dropped off. That figure doesn’t include folks who didn’t want radios.

That didn’t phase Bob Flournoy, head of the Umatilla Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission.

“If you’re losing sleep over that, my suggestion is that you not,” Flournoy told Capps during the commission’s monthly meeting.

As of June 8, the last day for which figures are available, 2,705 radios have been delivered. Distribution is supposed to last into the fall. Nearly 50 people are now delivering radios in Hermiston and in the Irrigon area.

People at the meeting discussed various ideas on how to get radios to these homes, some of which are vacant apartments. Some suggested a stronger public education campaign, especially with school children. All agreed that citizens also need to do some work to protect themselves.

“There is a personal responsibility in this if you’re a resident here,” Seigal said.

Also at Thursday’s meeting:

*Chris Brown of Oregon Emergency Management said seven new emergency sirens will be added to the area and that seven existing sirens will be moved. The additions will benefit people in Hermiston, Boardman, Umatilla and Stanfield.

*Brown said that protective gear for area first responders has arrived and been fitted to individuals. People would wear the gear during a chemical accident at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

*Wayne Thomas of the state Department of Environmental Quality said he expects a lawsuit soon regarding the recent announcement that the commission overseeing the DEQ said it will likely throw out a request to revoke the depot’s permit to burn chemical weapons.

*Mary Binder, spokeswoman of the Umatilla Chemical Depot, said the Army’s Umatilla Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office will be moving at the end of the month to 190 E. Main in Hermiston. It’s currently at 245 E. Main.