Calhoun County officials were noticeably absent Wednesday as the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and officials from five other counties kicked off a campaign to educate the public about emergency preparedness in the event of a chemical weapons accident at the Anniston Army Depot.The half-million-dollar campaign will begin today in Cleburne, Clay, Talladega, St. Clair and Etowah counties, with radio, television and newspaper ads, as well as direct mailings of information.
Titled "Are You Ready?" the state EMA's campaign will target 117,000 households throughout northeast Alabama, except Calhoun County.
Calhoun County officials have opted not to participate, saying they are not sure what to tell their constituents to do in the event of an accident. The county's official emergency strategy remains evacuation, although studies have shown that it would be practically impossible.
The five surrounding counties are using a combination of evacuation and shelter-in-place, which entails creating an airtight room using plastic sheeting and duct tape.
Calhoun County commissioners say those measures aren't adequate for the areas closest to the depot, the so-called "pink zones."
In its budget request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Calhoun County EMA has asked for $10 million to buy 35,000 filtered hoods, essentially gas masks, for residents.
In the meantime, the county is not participating in the public information campaign.
The Calhoun County EMA did issue a written statement Wednesday saying, "Calendars, brochures, fact sheets, zonal maps, evacuation routes and protective action instructions have been distributed and continue to be distributed throughout the county."
However, residents who want such information must call the Calhoun County EMA at 435-0540 or visit the agency's new Web site at www.calhounema.org.
The agency has not produced a 2001 calendar, detailing protective actions for residents. The calendar had been a staple of past years.
Delois Champ, spokeswoman for the Calhoun County EMA, said a decision will be made next week on whether the agency will produce a current calendar.
Calhoun County's decision not to participate had stalled the media campaign's start and caused discord with the Alabama EMA and officials in surrounding counties, who saw public education as the last obstacle on the path to emergency preparedness.
At the heart of the disagreement is Calhoun County's refusal to accept the guidebook, the manual for how to deal with a chemical weapons accident at the depot. Officials in Calhoun County say it contains false and outdated information.
Last month, Alabama EMA Director Lee Helms decided to go forward with the effort without Calhoun County. He criticized the county's reluctance to join the program. Helms said county officials had made "inaccurate" statements about the guidebook.
County commissioners fired back a response to Helms, reiterating their reasons for not participating in public education programs.
"We must take strong exception to your continued efforts to pit Calhoun County against the five surrounding counties," the letter read.
David Springer, the commission's Washington lobbyist, wrote the letter, according to Commissioner Randy Wood, who was quoted as saying he was not aware of its contents. Springer was hired to obtain $70 million in federal impact fees for the county.
"Calhoun County will not participate in a public relations program which attempts to tell our public that duct tape and plastic is maximum protection and a viable protective action recommendation," the letter further states.
Helms said he has not heard from the Calhoun County Commission since.
"We are ready, willing and able to work with Calhoun County when they choose to participate," Helms said Wednesday.
Helms added that the program can be modified to suit the county's needs and funds still are available. Because the ads will run on local TV and radio stations, he said, "There'll be some bleed over anyway."
