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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpeech by Col. Homer Garrison, Jr. Address by Colonel Homer Garrison, Jr. Director, Department of Public Safety State Coordinator of Civil Defense and Disaster Relief Annual State Civil Defense Directors Conference Stephen F. Austin Hotel February 15, 1965 9:20 A.M. I would like to add my personal welcome and best wishes to those that have been extended earlier in the program. We at the Department of Public Safety deem it an honor and a privilege to participate with such a distinguished group, and it is our sincere hope that each of you will gain additional knowledge and infor- mation in this conference that will be valuable in carrying out your responsi- bilities in your community. I believe we have an exceptionally good program that can provide worthwhile information and stimulate a further desire to keep up the good work and continue to increase emergency capabilities at the local level. Even as we discuss Civil Defense procedures today and tomorrow, the need for preparedness increases with each bit of information released from Viet Nam, An international crisis lies in the balance, needing only a gram to tip the scales in one direction or the other. Like the Cuban crisis of 1962, you, as a local director, must accept challenge just as sure as though nuclear warfare was evident, The Viet Cong attack on the American occupied bases last week has increased the awareness of the American public as to the possibilities of all out war. When President Johnson ordered retaliatory missions into North Viet Nam and our country was called an aggressor by the communist nations, Civil Defense again became a very real thing. Phones began ringing in the CD offices and many directors were questioned on the location of shelters, necessary supplies, and methods of protection. Unfortunately, public interest in Civil Defense fluctuates with international situations. These people who take to Civil Defense in cycles run hot and cold -- hot during times of crisis and cold with apathy in times of serenity, Again recall the Cuban build up. This was the first real test of the American public. It impressed on the minds of every American citizen that nuclear warfare is not only a possibility but a constant threat to the future of the human race. Florida's Governor Farris Bryant had this to say, and I quote: "After being briefed by the President I was overcome with a feeling of horror at the things I had left undone in the field of Civil Defense, I realized that millions of Floridans might die because of what I failed to do." -2 "The people," he added, "were willing to take the threat of being wiped out rather than take the threat of communism in Cuba. They were willing to make any sacrifice. There is not limit to the reservoirs of strength of our people once the problem is outlined." But it took the average American only two weeks to fall back into his bed of security, Then in November of 1964 the Chinese exploded an atom bomb and joined other nations in the erratic race for power, Once again the American public was aroused because another nation had reached a point where it could, at least in some respect, become a potential threat against the peace and freedom enjoyed by millions around the world.... a threat which is being used by nations to become a world power. And now we are faced with another crisis which lends to the rise of interest in Civil Defense. When and if the Viet Nam situation is layed to rest among the mass of conceived threats, will we again put Civil. Defense back on the shelf to collect dust until another international situation demands its revival? Let me stress to you now, and this is one very important thing that should be expounded in every community, to EVERY citizen, Civil Defense IS NOT something that can be put away and called upon just when needed but it is a day -to -day program of preparedness which keeps its wheels turning, in gear, and ready to protect lives and property in any emergency. The future role of Civil Defense is greatly dependent upon the psychological climate in which it operates. Our concern is not the popularity of Civil Defense at any given moment, but the continued existence of the nuclear threat. We should and must combat the ravages of public apathy because all of us here realize that any preparations essential to contain the effects of nuclear warfare must be made ahead of time, not when the bombs or missiles start dropping. Should an attack occur, you may have time to get to a shelter, but not the time to build one. Our job in Civil Defense is to keep on learning.... to keep on training.... to keep on working so that as many people as we can reach can get the facts. We have to convince.... we have to cojole.... we have to keep on plugging. Don't be embarrassed and above all don't give up when you are faced with a lack of interest for there will still be people in every town in Texas who will state that the atomic age is something dreamed up by the Civil Defense director so that he can have an office in city hall. Just keep on plugging. Really, we have a lot of help. A recent survey on Civil Defense conducted by a noted professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburg discovered that there is a strong indication of public acceptance to Civil Defense. In his report, he brought out there are two and one -half million volunteers in the -3- nation. This represents one person out of every 50 who is willing to devote his time and talents toward an organized program of security. You have much potential support in your communities. In dealing with Civil. Defense organizations throughout Texas during the past two years we have learned that the Texas Civil Protection Act is very versa- tile -- one that can be trimmed to fit the needs of the smallest community or enlarged to meet the demands of metropolitan areas. Civil Defense can be defined simply as "Emergency Government" with a basic purpose to achieve a state of preparedness. Therefore, the work that you do -- as a director, mayor or county judge - -is essential if we are going to have a successful Civil Defense program. I sometimes feel that the term "Civil Defense ", which I have used so often, is actually a misnomer, Today, we think in terms of disaster relief activities and of overall preparedness for any eventuality. Texas has had its share of disaster during the past year with flooding at Boerne, McKinney, Del Rio, Laredo, Fort Worth, Dallas, Killeen, and tornadoes at Temple and Wichita Falls, and many other places, coupled with the threat of hurricanes along the coast. Certainly those of you who were amid the devastation and those of you who extended a helping hand to neighbors in time of need are conscious of the actions taken by Civil Defense. Yet, we can thank God that we suffered only minor incidents compared to the damage in other states. The earthquake in Alaska on Good Friday, almost a year ago, was a disaster which authorities termed "The nearest comparison of natural disaster to a nuclear blast." The only difference was the lack of fallout conditions. Governor William Egan of Alaska had very high praise for Civil Defense. The skeleton State CD staff of eight became the nucleus of an expanded operations center coordinating the effort of the armed forces, private organizations and the work of all local governmental units. What Civil Defense did in Alaska is just what it was meant to do-- act as the command post and as a coordinator in the far -flung and intricate rescue and relief operations. Governor Egan noted, and I quote: " When we were dropped to our knees by the earthquake and tidal waves in Alaska, the Civil Defense organization was there to pick us up and get us started on the road to recovery. I can't give enough praise to the Civil Defense organization. Anyone in Alaska who had reserva- tions about Civil Defense in Alaska, I am sure, has changed his mind now after -4- seeing the great job this agency did and is continuing to do for our people. It may have been difficult for those outside Alaska to gain this knowledge, because our people were simply not in a position to grind out press releases telling the world what they were doing. But, now the dust has cleared, I want to say that all those in Alaska and all those having friends and relatives here owe a debt to Civil Defense organizations that can never be repaid." "Additionally," the governor pointed out, "the Alaska Army and Air National Guard proved to be of immediate valuable assistance in keeping order and protecting public and private property. But the direction came from civilians, particularly State and local Civil Defense organizations. Civil Defense was the key operational unit, working directly from my office. And the efforts, to a large degree, followed closely along established disaster plans." Then on the opposite side of the United States, while we in Texas were bracing for the likes of Hurricane Carla, it was Florida that took the whiplashing from two consecutive tropical storms which left that state with $325 million dollars in property damage. But not a single life was lost. Let me quote again Governor Farris Bryant. He said, "Even if our nation is never attacked, the work we did in preparing for that threat paid off a million times over when Hurricanes Cleo and Dora struck." And more recently, where was Civil Defense during the Oregon and California floods ? As one newspaper columnist said, "Boy, this ccâ–ºttld be answered personally by persons from all walks of life, from the standpoint of refugees, volunteers, and city, county, state, military, or Red Cross employees." Civil Defense was there, in State and every local government. It was giving - - instructions by radio to remote areas that could be reached by no other means -- it was giving out information as to conditions, keeping the public informed -- it was in the boats carrying out refugees - -it was knee -deep in mud bringing out a stranded family.... and one volunteer summed up the answer like this: "Civil Defense was everywhere it was needed during that terrible time, when no one knew what more to expect or where." These are familiar situations to most of you who have come face -to -face with similar conditions here in Texas. These are acts of nature that we have met and- conquered, but expect to meet again. It is this unfamiliar and seemingly far - fetched "nuclear" diaaster that is so hard to comprehend. The crisis in Viet Nam has once again closed in our international boundaries, With the communist nations possessing, at least, comparable weapons to those -5- in the United States, a most unpleasant picture comes into focus. Is "nuclear" disaster really so far-fetched? Certainly not. Something that we must bear in mind is that people living today in this nuclear age have some understanding of technology and science that would have been unheard of by an earlier generation. We have a keen awareness of the promises and perils of today's world. However, people expect us to make the most of the promises and be prepared for the perils. Therefore, it cannot be overstressed that Civil Defense is a concept of govern- mental operations in time of peril. Its only purpose is to promote operational efficiency at a time when loss of lives and property could be the price of ineptness or lack of readiness to perform. It uses the everyday capabilities inherent in government and makes sure that they are applied in the most meaningful way possible and that every resource available is incorporated into a planned effort. This has been the concept that has guided the development of the Texas plan for emergency preparedness. The use of Civil Defense operational concepts permit government at all levels to function with cohesion and dispatch. By having a central point of authority, properly staffed at each level of government, the literally hundreds of prompt decisions that a large -scale disaster require could be made with speed and efficiency. Equally important, the coordination of disaster relief can be achieved, I suppose there are some communities which we could turn to at this moment and find no Civil Defense at all. And let me say this to you, CID is hard to sell -- it's like highway safety. It's free -- it's to save lives -- but too few people want any part of it at all. Your local Civil Defense Coordinator and I are wholly agreed on the absolute necessity of bringing home to every Texas resident the message that we must stand prepared. Every person, young and old, must become involved in the task, if Civil Defense is to have it's full achievement. The fact that disaster has been in our own backyard, so to speak, has presented us with an opportunity to show that an organized and prepared Civil Defense program can respond quickly and efficiently when called upon during an emergency. While building our capabilities to survive and recover from the worst possible catastrophe - -that of nuclear attack -- we are at the same time preparing our communities and educating our citizens in survival techniques that will enable them to take swift and effective action in all types of emergencies. Coordination of authority to combat disaster i-s vital in our fast moving world. Whether the disaster be from natural or man-made causes, the need for a disaster control agency in every community is real and necessary. -6- Many of our local governments have made solid strides toward development of the organization, skills, and operational procedures necessary for the protection of its people. Local capability and readiness to meet disaster conditions is the only firm basis upon which a Civil Defense system can be raised. Here the initial battle for survival takes place. Here is where we begin to weld the links of responsibility into a chain of mutual operational competence. Here is where we can ill afford any weak or broken links. Our chain of mutual operational support is almost joined. We must complete it and temper it to maximum strength. Disaster control can only assume its rightful place as an arm of public safety, vital to all, when the fallacies concerning it have been discounted and replaced with a complete understanding of the merits of the program. With this task ahead, we move into another year of action. I am deeply proud of the major role you are playing in the development of a strong and active Civil Defense program. And I know from past experience that further progress will be the result of your participation in this conference.