Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program

Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Logo Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Logo

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) is a partnership between FEMA and the U.S. Department of the Army that provides emergency preparedness assistance and resources to communities surrounding the Army’s chemical warfare agent stockpiles.

The United States has maintained a stockpile of chemical munitions since the 1950’s. Although the U.S. never used the chemical weapons in combat, the Army produced the weapons to deter the threat of chemical attacks from foreign forces. Currently, the United States safely stores chemical agents at two sites. These sites are located in Colorado and Kentucky.

In 1988, the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) began nationwide to enhance emergency preparedness plans and procedures. Since CSEPP began, Pueblo County, the U.S. Army and its Pueblo Chemical Depot, the State of Colorado, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have worked together to improve their ability to protect Pueblo County.

The improvements and equipment provided to Pueblo County through CSEPP are available

for use in the event of any major emergency, and will remain in place even after the stockpile is destroyed. Some of the CSEPP funded benefits include training and protective equipment for emergency responders, communications and alerting equipment, and improved Emergency Operation Centers. Training is ongoing and approximately 1,000 personnel receive training annually. An exercise is also held annually to test the response capabilities of all cooperating agencies.

Although the possibility of an emergency involving the stored chemical weapons at Pueblo Chemical Depot is 1 in 100,000,000, an important function of emergency planning is the identification of those areas that could be affected in an emergency.

For more information visit the Pueblo County Sheriff's Emergency Services Bureau site or call Loraine Greenwood, CSEPP Medical Coordinator at (719) 583-4430.