CIVIL
DEFENSE
As a child during the early 1960’s, the civil
defense sign and symbol was as familiar to me as was the TV test pattern that
came on at midnight on the weekends. We
did drills at school. The drills weren’t
for anything in particular like a tornado or dust storm or fire. We did constant drills that led us all to the
shelter where we would stay until we got the all clear. I participated in drills until I was 15 years
old, all the while in military dependent schools. Almost all the schools I ever attended had
shelters and the signs, and we always knew where the shelters were. We just did.
As a kid when we traveled to Memphis to
visit my paternal grandparents, I noticed a lack of the civil defense signs
throughout the city. It seems like I
remember seeing one civil defense sign at the old Poplar Plaza Shopping Center,
somewhere by the old Lowenstein’s store.
I was concerned about this lack of signage. What did these people know to do and where to
go if the Communist Cubans sent missiles to the U.S.? I wondered these things.
We moved to Memphis in 1970, the place that
had no civil defense shelters as far as I knew, yet. Not where we lived, anyway, and not in the
schools we kids attended. I do not
recall a single fire drill during my last two years of high school. I eventually found out that some of the very
old school buildings in Memphis had previous civil defense shelters at one
time. I supposed the civil defense
program wasn’t in existence any longer since the war in Vietnam was slowly
winding down; so maybe somebody figured that America didn’t have many threats
anymore. But the Cold War was still looming
out there as far as I was concerned and Cuba was still a Communist country. I knew all about nuclear fallout, how far out
the radiation could disperse, what it would do to farmlands, to oil supplies,
to the people who didn’t make it out, and then there was that notion of what we
survivors would do to sustain. I read
the book, “Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank, who wrote the book in 1959. It is a tale of those fateful words that
heralded the end when a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand
years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of
people are killed instantly – but for one small town in Florida, spared, the
struggle is just beginning as men and women of all backgrounds join together to
confront the darkness. Kind of like
9/11. This book is as relevant now as it
was back in my childhood.
Everywhere I lived in Memphis and the
surrounding area had no civil defense program that I could find, other than the
American Red Cross teaching Disaster Preparedness classes and the City
performing law enforcement drills in the event a mall or high rise was besieged
by gunmen. I took those Red Cross
classes and volunteered my time in many disaster events. They were lots of fun. I took a course to become a Community
Emergency Response Team member and even learned how to dig people out of
crumbled buildings during light rescue. Who
knows, I may need that skill one day.
I think I drove my daughters bonkers with
all the preparations I made sure they took care of in the event of any type of
disaster that could happened, to include war time scenarios. My grandchildren have been raised with the
knowledge to be survivalists if needed.
They, too, have had formal Red Cross training since they were 11 years
old. We all have emergency materials,
first aid supplies, foods and water (to include rotated cans of smoked oysters
and crackers for meditative times) in bins, stored in places within our houses
that we hope still stands after a major disaster. We have what we need to subsist here,
in-place, for a while. Do you?
Do people not feel a need for this type of
education, to learn how to join together and put their City back together after
major devastation, regardless of how the devastation occurred? I was taught these things starting at a young
age, in elementary school. All the
children back then, even the school bullies, knew they had a role to fill if
America crashed, if our Post crashed. All
of the children were involved in the effort to protect and survive. They just were. When did America stop teaching her citizens
how to take care of themselves and their communities in the event of major
disaster or devastation?
Since the end of the Cold War, civil
defense has fallen into disuse within the United States. Gradually, the focus on nuclear war shifted to
an "all-hazards" approach of Comprehensive Emergency Management. Natural disasters and the emergence of new
threats such as terrorism have caused attention to be focused away from
traditional civil defense and into new forms of civil protection such as Emergency
Management and Homeland Security.
Did you know - A state of emergency is a
governmental declaration that announces that the country is in a state of
emergency. This means that the
government can suspend and/or change some functions of the executive, the
legislative and or the judiciary during this period of time. It alerts citizens to change their normal
behavior and orders government agencies to implement emergency plans. A government can declare a state of emergency
during a time of natural or man-made disaster, during a period of civil unrest,
or following a declaration of war or situation of international/internal armed
conflict. It can also be used as a rationale
for suspending rights and freedoms, even if those rights and freedoms are
guaranteed under the Constitution.
Noteworthy are the ongoing states of
emergency declared on November 14, 1979 regarding the Iran hostage crisis, that
declared on March 15, 1995 with respect to Iran, and that declared on September
14, 2001 through Bush's Proclamation 7463, regarding the September 11
attacks. President Barack Obama extended
George W. Bush's Declaration of Emergency regarding terrorism on September 10,
2009, on September 10, 2010, on September 9, 2011, and on September 11, 2012. President Barack Obama extended the
Declaration of Emergency on November 12, 2013, citing continued conflicts in
Iran.
HISTORY
OF CIVIL DEFENSE
The Federal Civil Defense Administration
was organized by Democratic president Harry S. Truman on December 1, 1950, and
became an official government agency on January 12, 1951. The agency distributed posters, programs, and
information about communism and the threat of communist attacks.
United States civil defense refers to the
use of civil defense in the history of the United States, which is the
organized non-military effort to prepare Americans for military attack. Over the last twenty years, the term and
practice of civil defense have fallen into disuse and have been replaced by
emergency management and homeland security.
Identifying
fallout shelters
President Kennedy launched an ambitious
effort to install fallout shelters throughout the United States. These shelters would not protect against the
blast and heat effects of nuclear weapons, but would provide some protection
against the radiation effects that would last for weeks and even affect areas
distant from a nuclear explosion. Some
of the shelters were even located on the upper floors of skyscrapers.
Survivability
in design:
Civil Defense officials encouraged people to build in the suburbs away from key
targets and to be conscientious of the needs of a nuclear age when building
houses and other structures.
Alerting
the people: A Thunderbolt siren in Wisconsin.
In order for most of these preparations to
be effective, there had to be some type of warning for the population. The United States embarked on creating systems
at both the local and national levels to allow the communication of
emergencies. In 1951, President Harry S.
Truman established the CONELRAD (Control of Electromagnetic Radiation) Plan. Under the system, a few primary stations would
be alerted of an emergency and would broadcast an alert. All broadcast stations throughout the country
would be constantly listening to an upstream station and repeat the message,
thus passing it from station to station. After broadcasting the message, all radio
communications would cease except for two designated lower power AM frequencies
(640 and 1240 kHz). This was designed to
prevent enemy planes from using transmitters as navigation aids for direction
finding. The later threat of ICBMs
(which used internal guidance) made this obsolete, and it was phased out in the
early 1960s. In 1963, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) created the Emergency Broadcast System to
replace CONELRAD. The EBS served as the
primary alert system throughout the Cold War and well into the 1990s. In addition to these, air raid sirens such as
the Thunderbolt siren would sound an alert.
In 1979, President Carter signed Executive
Order 12179 merging the successor to the Federal Civil Defense Administration
(The Defense Civil Preparedness Agency–DCPA) into today's Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). In 2003, FEMA
was merged into the US Department of Homeland Security.
Ensuring
continuity of government: Governments
made efforts to exist even after an apocalyptic nuclear attack, something
called Continuity of Government (COG). Many
city halls built Emergency Operation Centers in their basements.
Continuity of government is the principle
of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its
essential operations in case of nuclear war or other catastrophic event.
Continuity of government was developed by
the British government before and during World War II to counter the threat of
Luftwaffe bombing during the Battle of Britain. The need for continuity-of-government plans
gained new urgency with nuclear proliferation.
Take a peek at a story about a possible myth of the German’s invasion of
Britain. http://dave-harris.hubpages.com/hub/World-War-Two-Britains-Secret-Defence
Countries during the Cold War and
afterwards developed such plans to avoid or minimize confusion and disorder in
the aftermath of a nuclear attack.
In the US at least, COG is no longer
limited to nuclear emergencies; the Continuity of Operations Plan was activated
following the September 11 attacks and has been in effect ever since.
The National Security and Homeland Security
Presidential Directive created and signed by United States President George W.
Bush on May 4, 2007, is a
Presidential Directive which claims power to execute procedures for continuity
of the federal government in the event of a "catastrophic emergency".
Such an emergency is construed as
"any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary
levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S.
population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government
functions." The directive, created
by the president, claims that the president has the power to declare a catastrophic
emergency. It does not specify who has the power to declare the emergency over.
United
States Continuity of Operations Plan
The Continuity of Operations Plan was
activated in US following the September 11 attacks and has been in effect ever since.
Each facility is counterpart to its
peacetime equivalent. Camp David → Executive Office of the President
Cheyenne Mountain → North American
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
Mount Weather → Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) (Used temporarily for Members of Congress in Sept.
2001)
Raven Rock Mountain Complex → The Pentagon
(Department of Defense)
United States Strategic Command Center
(Offutt Air Force Base) → United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)
Unknown → United States Congress (The Greenbrier
was to be used until 1992, when it was decommissioned)
Former site: National Audio-Visual
Conservation Center (Mount Pony) → Department of Treasury/Federal Reserve (sold
off in 1997 to the National Audiovisual Conservation Center)
Project Greek Island (Greenbrier Bunker -
Exposed in press and removed from service)
Facilities - During the Cold War,
the United States constructed bunkers to help provide survivability to military
command and government officials. Some
have been decommissioned since the Cold War. The ones that are still considered to be in
operation are listed here.
Cheyenne Mountain Directorate - This bunker
is the former home of NORAD. Becoming
fully operational on April 20, 1966, it is located in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. Currently, the military has
the goal of placing the operations center on "warm stand-by", meaning
that the facility will be maintained and ready for use on short notice as
necessary, but not used on a daily basis.
In the event of an emergency determined serious enough, NORAD and
USNORTHCOM would use the bunker for C4ISTAR of America's military.
Site R (Raven Rock) - Near Waynesboro,
Pennsylvania, Site R is the emergency home for The Pentagon. Vice President Cheney is reported to have
stayed here after the September 11 attacks.
Mount Weather - The Mount Weather Emergency
Operations Center is a government facility located near Bluemont, Virginia. It houses operations and training facilities
above ground for the FEMA and contains an underground facility designed to
house key components of the American government in the case of nuclear war. During the September 11 attacks, a line of
government cars and limousines with police escort was seen heading from
Washington, D.C. to Mount Weather. It
has been suggested that Vice President Dick Cheney has been at Mount Weather
from time to time, as it is the quintessential "secure undisclosed
location". Since September 11,
2001, Mount Weather has seen a dramatic increase in staffing and support.
What can you do to protect you and your
family in the event of any type of disaster?
Preparation is key.
Emergency
Food Supplies
During and after a disaster, it is
important that you and your family (including pets) eat enough to maintain your
strength. The Centers for Disease
Control and the American Red Cross recommend that each family store enough food
to last for at least three days or up to two weeks. You will need to have enough food on hand to
eat at least one well-balanced meal each day, and more if you are working hard.
If activity is significantly reduced,
healthy people can survive on half their usual food intake for an extended
period and without any food for many days. Food, unlike water, may be rationed safely,
except children and pregnant women still need adequate nutrition.
If there is a power outage, foods stored in
the refrigerator or freezer should be consumed first, then begin using your
emergency food supplies. Those foods
should be non-perishable and require no refrigeration, minimal preparation or
cooking, and little or no water.
What
to Store:
Ready-to-eat canned foods like soups,
vegetables, stews. Avoid eating from
cans that are swollen, dented or corroded.
Canned juices, powered milk (store extra
water)
Dried fruits, nuts
Staples like sugar, salt and pepper
High energy foods like peanut butter,
jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix
Canned protein drinks, vitamin and
mineral supplement tablets
Comfort/stress foods: cookies, hard
candy, sweetened cereals, instant coffee, tea bags
Foods designed for people on special
diets. Juices and soups may be helpful for ill or elderly people. Nursing mothers may need liquid formula in
case they are unable to nurse.
Canned or dry pet food for pets
Also
Keep on Hand:
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wipes
Manual can opener
Disposable cups, plates and utinsils
Utility knife
Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
Re-sealable plastic bags
How
and Where to Store Food:
Keep food supplies in a cool, dry place,
out of the sun, if possible.
Wrap perishable foods, such as cookies
and crackers in plastic bags and keep them in sealed containers.
Empty opened packages of sugar, dried
fruits and nuts into screw-top jars or airtight canisters to keep them fresh.
Rotate supplies and replace them
frequently so they remain fresh.
If packages do not have a use-by or
expiration date on them, mark foods with a permanent marker to
record date of purchase.
Checklist of Items for A Basic Emergency Supply Kit
Water, one gallon of water per person per
day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
Food, at least a three-day supply of
non-perishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a
NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both flashlight and
extra batteries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust mask, to help filter contaminated
air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place. These can be found at stores Walgreens and
Walmart.
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and
plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Can opener for food (if kit contains
canned food)
Prescription medications and glasses
Infant formula and diapers
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Important family documents such as copies
of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof,
portable container
Cash or traveler’s checks and change
Emergency reference material such as a
first aid book
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each
person. Consider additional bedding if
you live in a cold-weather climate.
Complete change of clothing including a
long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a
cold-weather climate.
Household chlorine bleach and medicine
dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used
as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency,
you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid
bleach per gallon of water. Do not use
scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
Fire Extinguisher
Matches in a waterproof container
Feminine supplies and personal hygiene
items
Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic
utensils, paper towels
Paper and pencil
Books, games, puzzles or other activities
for children
The more you prepare for an emergency in
advance, the quicker you will be able to recover and get life back to normal.
Emergency
Water Supplies
In an emergency, having a supply of clean
water is critical to survival. You will
need enough clean water for you and your family's needs for drinking, food
preparation and hygiene.
Minimum
Water Needs:
Store at least one gallon per person and
pet per day.
Store at least a 3-day supply of water
for each member of your family.
How
and Where to Store Water:
In a cool, dark place in your home, in
each vehicle and in your workplace.
Preferably in store-bought,
factory-sealed water containers.
In food-grade quality containers made for
storing water and available from sporting goods and surplus stores and other
retailers.
Avoid:
Store-bought water past its expiration
date.
Storing water in containers that can't be
sealed tightly.
Storing water in containers that can
break, such as glass bottles.
Storing water in containers that have
held toxic substances.
Plastic milk bottles and cartons --they
are difficult to clean and break down over time.
Alternate
Emergency Water Sources Inside and Outside Your Home
If a disaster catches you without an
adequate stored supply of clean water, you can use the water in:
Your hot-water tank
Pipes and faucets
Ice cube trays
If
you need to find water outside your home, try:
Rainwater
Streams, rivers and other moving bodies
of water
Ponds and lakes
Natural Springs
Water from these sources must be made safer
before using. Do not ever drink flood
water. Avoid using water with floating
material, an odor or dark in color.
Emergency
First Aid Kit
In any emergency, you or a family member
may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. A first aid kit containing some basic supplies
is essential to keep on hand. Taking a
first aid class or purchasing a first aid manual will give you the knowledge
you need to treat minor injuries. By simply
having the following supplies, you can help you stop bleeding, prevent
infection, and aid healing.
Things
you should have:
Two pairs of Latex or other sterile
gloves (if you are allergic to Latex).
Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
Cleansing agent, soap and antibiotic
towelettes to disinfect.
Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Burn ointment to prevent infection.
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
Eye wash solution to flush the eyes.
Thermometer
Prescription medications you take every
day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to
keep them fresh.
Prescribed medical supplies such as
glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.
Non-prescription
Drugs:
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for upset stomach)
Laxative
Other
things to keep on hand:
Cell Phone
Scissors
Tweezers
Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Health
& Medical Services During a Disaster
Emergency Medical Coordination Center - The
Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is the lead agency for coordinating
the identification, staffing, resource needs of, and the response to the health
and medical needs of the community following a significant emergency or
catastrophic disaster including:
•Disease outbreaks
•Major transportation accidents
•Natural disasters
•Technological disasters
•Terrorism
The department has established an Emergency
Medical Coordination Center from which all medical aspects of the Emergency
Operations Center will be coordinated. Telephone capabilities and an amateur
radio system, which is self-powered, can be activated during a mass casualty
incident / disaster.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
training is a free program designed to educate citizens about how to prepare
for emergencies that might impact their area and trains them in basic disaster
preparedness skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster
medical operations. CERT members are vital to a community in time of crises,
especially when professional responders are not immediately available. For more information about the CERT program
and training, go to https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/.
