Civil defense program 1950s

OEM, primarily a framework within which various civilian war agencies were established, is now inactive. President approved regulation of Council of National Defense that Advisory Commission provided for in sec. Realignment of relationships necessitated by expansion of the program decentralized the Advisory Commission by merging its divi- sions with other newly created national defense units.

Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense appointed by the President, and State Governors advised to reestablish defense councils. Drafts of model law sent to States for consideration of legislature with a view to securing uniformity of civil defense organization on the State level. Office of Civilian Defense established within Office for Emergency Management by EO , to assure effective coordination of Federal relations with State and local governments engaged in furtherance of war programs; to provide for necessary cooperation with State and local governments with respect to measures for adequate protection of civilian population in war emergencies; and to facilitate participation by all persons in war programs.

Executive Order amended EO to provide for a wider and more effective functioning of the Volunteer Participation Committee by increasing its membership from 20 to First training course given at Edgewood Arsenal, Md. These courses continued weekly thereafter. Emergency Medical Services established with representative of U. EMS was responsible for establishment of necessary emergency medical facilities in communities throughout the country, including organization of emergency field units and casualty stations.

The insignia were developed by Charles T. Walter B. Burn, an OCD staff member. It gave the first complete and coordinated plan for local organization of civilian defense, and was the prototype of all following CD organizations. Eleanor Roosevelt appointed Assistant Director, OCD, heading Volunteer Participation activities, to administer the nonprotective aspects of civilian defense.

She reported November 1, , and resigned February 20, Official CD insigne patented U. Letters Patent No. D, by Col. Walter P. Burn, who assigned rights to Government. Physical Fitness Division established under direction of John B. Kelly, with headquarters in Philadelphia.

During that month first consolidated reports from States showed over one million volunteers trained, or in training; first regionwide test blackout was held in OCD Region 1 was held at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Boy Scouts of America accepted assignment of messenger training; over one million messengers were trained for CD. Special day course for Reserve and National Guard officers, assigned to regional and State offices, began at Edgewood Arsenal, Md. James M. Melvyn Douglas Hesselberg , actor, named Director of OCD Art Council, to mobilize volunteer activities of Nation's writers, artists, musicians, and actors for Division of Civilian Participation program; served without compensation; resigned December 5, , to enter Army.

Joint Committee on Evacuation interdepartmental created. Apparently abolished prior to July 1, No reference to it after that date.

His last day in office was February 11, Executive Order expanded functions of OCD Director by authorizing him to maintain a clearinghouse of information on State and local defense activities in cooperation with appropriate Federal departments and agencies; and replaced both the Board of Civilian Protection and the Volunteer Participation Committee by a single Civilian Defense Board to advise and assist the Director.

War Emergency Radio Service WEBS authorized by Defense Communications Board name changed to Board of War Communications by EO , June 15, for civilian defense, Civi Airs Patrol, and State guard systems, to permit licensing for defense purposes limited number of amateur shortwave stations, all of which had been closed the first of the year for security reasons. By end of , licenses covering 5, radio transmitters were issued to civilian defense stations. Landis named Liaison Officer to Civil Defense of Canada for coordination of policies, air raid signals, equipment, etc.

Director Landis resigned and recommended abolition of OCD. John B. Martin, deputy, became Acting Director. War Department announced that Aircraft Warning Service would be placed on standby basis. Executive Order expanded authority of OCD Director to permit him to provide for the internal organization and management of OCD, and to delegate authority to carry out his powers and duties to such agencies and officials as he might designate.

Left in February William N. Strategic Bombing Survey established, pursuant to Presidential directive, to study effects of air war over Germany with two objectives: help plan impending expansion of air war against Japan, and help assess and evaluate air power as a military instrument in the interest of future planning for national defense. Resulted in Summary Report. European War , GPO, OCD abolished. This action was followed by the disbanding of most State and local civil defense organizations.

All protective property acquired under act of January 27, , and act of February 21, , was transferred to Department of Commerce; liquidation of OCD fiscal affairs assigned to Treasury Department. Victory in Japan V-J Day.

President Truman requested U. Strategic Bombing Survey to study effects of air war on Japan, particularly the effects of bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Provost Marshal General Study 3B-1, "Defense Against Enemy Action Directed at Civilians," concluded that atomic warfare did not eliminate the possibility of effective civil defense but, rather, increased its importance; that civil defense be considered an integral and essential part of national defense; that a national shelter program and other passive defense policies must be planned at once and continuously studied and updated; and that advance planning include: updated inventories of essential materials and facilities available, maintenance of reserve stockpiles of critical materials, studies of dispersal of facilities as well as emergency evacuation of civilians, and development of intelligence detection systems as well as warning systems.

Harold R. Bull to study problem of civil defense. National Convention of American Legion at New York City adopted report of Legion's Civil Defense Commission, urging the President to establish a civil defense planning agency under direction of a civilian, and outlining minimum requirements for civil defense. This report, when presented to the President, became the basis for establishment of the Office of Civil Defense Planning.

Bull Board report declassified by authority of Secretary of Defense. It was first report on a civil defense program for the United States.

Russell J. Hopley, President, Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, asked by Secretary of Defense James Forrestal to organize and direct committee to plan for establishing civil defense organization for the Nation. Hopley as director, within National Military Establishment predecessor to the Department of Defense, which was established as an executive department by the National Security Act Amendments of P.

In memorandum to Acting Chairman John R. Steelman, the President assigned to National Security Resources Board primary responsibility for civil defense planning. Acting Chairman, NSRB, requested: a Administrator, Federal Works Agency which became General Services Administration July 1, to assume responsibility for "wartime civil disaster relief planning," including activities and supplies, rescue, evacuation, demolition, regulation of transportation, communications, and restoration of order; b Secretary of National Defense to assume responsibility for planning civilian participation in active defense, including detection, observation, and identification of aircraft, air-raid-warning systems, border patrol, anti-aircraft defense, civil air patrol, camouflage, and protective construction.

This was report requested March Barnet W. Beers named as Assistant for Civil Defense Liaison. Department of Defense held "Operation Lookout" in 10 northeastern States to test air-defense plans. President Truman announced that Russians had exploded their own atomic bomb in the Soviet Union. A statement of policy for relations with State and local governments, the first in a series of Civil Defense Planning Advisory Bulletins Doc. Senator Brian McMahon, Chairman, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, announced that public hearings on problem of civil defense would be held early during next session of Congress.

Bulletin outlined Federal Government's objectives in planning, set forth information on planning activities in progress, made recommendations for State and local action, and requested information on specific questions relating to State civil defense programs. NSRB Doc. President directed Atomic Energy Commission to study possibilities of building thermonuclear hydrogen bombs. Paul J. Radiological monitoring and medical and health courses sponsored by NSRB began; continued through July Nomination of W.

Took oath of office April Suggested course of action for States, described radiological and medical training activities, suggested approach to civil defense, and defined responsibility for civil defense planning. Atomic Energy Commission disclosed that "great steps" had been achieved in developing the hydrogen bomb.

Book was prepared by Defense Atomic Support Agency of the Department of Defense in coordination with other cognizant governmental agencies and published by the U. Atomic Energy Commission. Public Law , Defense Production Act of , approved. Exhibit C of Doc. Durham North Carolina. Public Law 81st Congress , "To authorize Federal assistance to States and local governments in major authority to coordinate activities of Federal agencies in providing disaster assistance.

Revised bill H. Cain Wash. On same day President Truman appointed Millard F. Caldwell, Jr. Wadsworth was named Deputy Administrator. A basic code of public air raid warning signals, to be used by all States and cities in event of attack, announced by FCDA.

The two-stage warning code--"Red Alert" and "All Clear"--was developed by a panel consisting of representatives of FCDA, the Department of Defense, State and city civil defense authorities, and sound engineers. Executive Order established Office of Defense Mobilization within Executive Office of the President to direct, control, and coordinate all mobilization activities of the Government, including production, procurement, manpower, stabilization, and transport activities.

Designation of certain amateur frequencies for civil defense use by licensed amateur radio operators, after any suspension of normal amateur activity, announced jointly by FCDA and Federal Communications Commission; made possible for State and local civil defense authorities to plan for utilization of Nation's amateur operators for civil defense purposes.

FCDA announced at a national meeting of State civil defense directors that matching Federal funds would be made available for construction of individual or family-type shelters, but that no contributions would be made for shelters outside critical target areas.

Meeting of United States and Canadian civil defense officials in Ottawa for further informal exploration of possible agreements on mutual civil defense problems. Discussions covered interstate-provincial and international mutual aid agreements, exchange of medical services, and standardization of civil defense supplies and equipment; also possible exchange of civil defense personnel between United States and Canada.

Civil Defense Conference, Washington, D. A series of forums on civil defense organization, volunteer technical services, public education, health and welfare services, shelters, attack warning and communications, training, and other program activities were held during the conference. Matters concerning regulation and control of traffic in relation to CD were considered. FCDA released summary of system to be used for determining amount of shelter from atomic attack needed in a given area and amount of suitable shelter space available in existing buildings in that area.

Release of system for determining shelter in existing buildings marked the first phase of the shelter program. FCDA announced distribution to State and local directors of an illustrated bulletin containing a suggested organizational pattern for the communications section of municipal control centers, to be used as official guide. Committee reached agreement on overall objectives of traffic handling during CD emergencies.

This was first training center for local instructors in the country, and continued operating for about one year. Closed August 15, Manual on "Shelter from Atomic Attack in Existing Buildings," sent to State and local civil defense directors; provided method for determining census of persons in given locations and uniform evaluation of shelter space in existing buildings. James J. Wadsworth, Deputy Administrator, announced that St. Center opened Sept. During meeting Committee reviewed welfare problems before and after an attack, including emergency shelters, food supply, emergency mass feeding, personal identification, notification of next-of-kin, and post-disaster legislation.

Its mission was to assist Mrs. John L. Whitehurst, Assistant Administrator, in alerting and organizing American women for civil defense. A turtle was chosen as the star of a children's civil defense campaign because his ability to duck and cover into his shell illustrates the basic principle of self-protection. America's butchers, bakers, grocers, and milkmen called upon by FCDA and the Department of Agriculture to help set up immediate plans for nationwide emergency civil defense feeding in event of attack.

Call for help was in form of an announcement that FCDA and USDA had reached agreement on detailed plans to provide adequate food for the Nation under emergency attack conditions. Three million copies were sent out. Communications experts from throughout the Nation joined FCDA officials in a 6-day session to discuss technical details of a communications system for civil defense in a national emergency.

FCDA established new office of volunteer manpower for recruiting. Whitehurst of Baltimore, Md. Previously, Mrs.

Whitehurst had served as Assistant Administrator in charge of Women's Participation. Purpose of new office was to "afford the necessary impetus and coordination essential to increase public participation in recruitment of additional volunteers for the growing U. Civil Defense Corps. FCDA launched series of nationwide radio programs to promote civil defense organizations in the country, featuring officials of FCDA, Atomic Energy Commission, and top senatorial and military leaders.

Exhibit presented various aspects of civil defense and reasons why America needed a well-trained civil defense organization. After Washington showing, "Alert America" toured major U. There were three main considerations that led planners to believe this would have been a viable option at the time:. All of these combined to suggest to evacuation planners that mass evacuations of large cities could be undertaken successfully in the event of a war with Russia.

A great many people at all levels of government believed that such evacuations were not possible, and Congress refused to provide any substantial funding for any civil defense program, let alone funds needed for major relocation studies.

A good deal of the funding went toward the development of sheltering programs, including the study of existing buildings for use as shelters, and the development of concepts and guidance for the building of underground shelters at individual homes. The FCDA would concentrate solely on preparing the civilian population for a nuclear attack, while the new ODM would assume all responsibilities related to domestic emergency preparedness and development of the nation's civilian capability to ramp up and go to war.

During the time period, there continued to be arguments over whether evacuation or sheltering was to be the nation's policy regarding response to a nuclear attack. There was vigorous debate in Congress, in the Executive Branch, and even among individuals charged with the responsibility of managing the civil defense and ODM programs.

The general public had largely grown tired of civil defense anyway, however, due to the political face put on by the Eisenhower Administration about maintaining a peaceful coexistence with the Russians. That would soon change, however.

The development of intercontinental ballistic missile capability and the subsequent launch of the Sputnik satellite, along with the Soviet Union's explosion of a hydrogen bomb once again fueled fears of the potential for a Russian attack on the United States. This time, however, the evacuation planners had to confront the fact that a Soviet missile could reach the U. In , the major civil defense and emergency preparedness programs at the federal level were reorganized.

It was during this period that the Federal Civil Defense Act was amended to allow the federal government to provide funding for civil emergency preparedness. The concept of a joint federal-state-local responsibility for civil defense and attack preparedness was also articulated in guidance distributed by the new ODCM. Within Tennessee, the newly created Civil Defense Agency was hard at work in its headquarters office, located in Room of the Cordell Hull Building.

The Governor adopted the policy that TCDA should be the central coordination point for all civil defense actions following an attack, and gave TCDA the authority to coordinate all the other state agencies' activities during such periods.

The culmination of this effort led to the publishing in of the state's first major planning document related to civil defense. Called the Tennessee Operational Survivability Plan, the volume document laid out how the state would respond to a nuclear attack in excruciating detail. The Governor and the Civil Defense staff were to be relocated to a facility outside of Tullahoma, Tennessee, and an alternate state Capitol was to be established at the old Ovoca Children's School in the same general area.

The plan describes vehicle loads for anticipated evacuation routes, contains letters of coordination for the use of counties in adjoining states, and even details specific guidance on how resources were to be allocated to individual counties through the CDOA organizational structure.

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