Pueblo County Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) staff shared safety messages regarding the chemical stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) during an annual event in Avondale, Colorado, August 11.

“McHarg Park Community Center is a critical hub and gathering place for members of the Avondale Community. At an event like this, it is important for our government agencies and their partners to demonstrate their connection with these citizens—those we support and serve who live closest to the PCD and the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant,” said John Riley, CSEPP coordinator

“It gives us the opportunity to celebrate this facility that is so important to this community and it also allows us to talk to citizens about the CSEPP program,” Riley said.

One of the resources available to residents is a Tone Alert Radio, a wireless emergency alert device used to provide timely and reliable alerts in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. If there are announcements, the radio comes on automatically with an alert tone, followed by a voice message explaining what the emergency is, the affected area and instructions on what to do, said Art Pope, CSEPP planner and Tone Alert Radio specialist.

Anyone living within the vicinity of the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot is eligible to receive a free radio. Appointments for the delivery and installation of a radio can be made by calling (719) 583-6286.

Anyone living within the vicinity of PCD is eligible to receive a free radio, Pope said.

Other participating agencies included Academy Kids Dental, American Medical Response, Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office, Pueblo Rural Fire, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo City-County Health Department Recycle Project and Pueblo County 911. The function draws nearly 250 participants annually.