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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSix Point Accelerated Civil Defense Program 1962 L &91-4--c- ...4.,:ee &- 41 With the cooperation of DEPARTMENT o DEFENSE municipal and county yors OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE REGION 5 Denton, Texas November 30, 1962 MEMORANDUM FOR STATE AND LOCAL CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTORS SUBJECT: General Information on the Six Point Accelerated Civil Defense Program This memorandum contains information and guidance on the six noint accelerated program, which have been presented to and adopted by the Governors' Conference Committee on Civil Defense, representatives of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, the American Municipal Association, and the National Association of County Officials. The key element in this program is to make use of the shielding from ra- diation which exists in buildings identified in the National Fallout Shelter Survey and to intensify the training necessary for the utiliza- tion of such facilities. • the Govern , the Ma officials and building owners, much can be done in the months ahead which will show great improvements in the capacity of this country to reduce the potential loss of life from nuclear attack. These are the six major areas of emphasis of the President's Accelerated Civil Defense Program. 1. SHELTER MARKING By marking all buildings with a protection factor of 40 to 100 (Categories 2 and 3), we can nearly double the amount of immedi- ately available shelter space. This would provide some protection for approximately twice the number of people as was projected on the basis of marking only those buildings with 100 PF or more (Categories 4 -8). __In order to accelerate the marking program, provisions have been made whereby local governments can mark their own buildings. Local governments which are willing to v olunteer assistance in accelerat- ing the shelter sign posting program should notify the State Civil Defense Office. Contacts will then be made by the State Office with COE- BuDocks who will make appropriate arrangements with city or county governments, for local sign posting for $1.00 per con- tract. The COE- BuDocks will furnish signs, overlays, posting materials, and technical instructions and the local government will post the signs at its own expense. Signs may be posted on verbal permission of building owners without prejudice to a later decision by building owner to withdraw the space. The OCD funding at this time is such that we must depend heavily upon local cooperation and assistance if we are to complete the accelerated sign posting program as planned and scheduled. 2. SHELTER STOCKING The production of shelter supplies is being accelerated and the federal government will continue to furnish stocks for shelters in categories 4 through 8. Local governments are encouraged to sign and return supply requisi- tions as soon as possible so that supplies may be made available with the least possible delay. Although category 2 and 3 shelters are being marked with temporary signs, federally procured supplies are not available for these shelters. Local governments should devise plans to provide supplies in these interim shelters. This can be accomplished through community projects and /or by advice to individuals to bring home supplies to unstocked shelters. • 3. RURAL SHELTERS The federal shelter program relies largely on home shelters for the rural population. In cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, effort is being intensified to provide technical civil defense help in rural areas, particularly on inexpensive shelters for people, and on methods for protecting livestock and crops against fallout. Local government should keep in touch with the local County Agent for general information on the progress of this program. 4. TRAINING A. Shelter Management The identification and marking of shelters creates the immediate and practical need for trained shelter managers on the basis of one shelter manager per shelter. To meet this requirement the Office of Civil Defense will utilize a concentrated short course consisting of 8', hours for training shelter managers. The follow- ing actions have been taken: (1) Instructional materials for 8 hour course have been developed and will be available through State CD offices as training • classes are scheduled. -2- (2) Names and addresses of personnel already trained as shelter managex instructors have been compiled, and will be available through the State CD offices. Local CD offices should plan for the initiation of shelter management training through the utilization of trained shelter manager instructors and appropriate training materials. (3) Areas where concentrated shelter manager training is re- quired have been identified. (4) In those areas where trained shelter manager instructors are not now available, the region will work with the State to schedule shelter manager training at the local level on a limited basis. Local CD offices should con- tinue development of local capability by sending appro- priate personnel to OCD training centers. B. Radiological Monitoring Enough radiological instruments are now on hand, or on order, to establish an additional seven thousand monitoring stations within Region 5. In order to quickly train a minimum of one meter reader in each identified shelter, a 32 hour meter reading course has been de- veloped. The instructional materials for conducting this course are now available. Local communities need to develop a train- ing capability to train at least one monitor per identified community shelter. For the 31/2 hour accelerated course, instruc- tors may be found from presently trained monitors and high school science teachers. The 32 hour monitoring course is to provide a nation -wide radiation meter reading capability at once. It is not intended to provide sufficient training for the operator to evaluate the meter reading in case of emergency operations or to replace regular Radiological Defense Officer training and Radiological Defense Monitor training. Radiological defense booklets, "Handbook for Monitors," are available to be supplied with each set of instruments to assigned, trained meter readers. C. Shelter Construction Workshops Twenty -five shelter construction workshops have been held in Region 5. Architects, engineers, contractors and other con- struction industry personnel have been trained in the complex techniques of locating shielding in buildings and improvising shelters. Rosters of these trained professionals are available through the State CD offices to local civil defense authorities to help in long range and emergency plans for sheltering the community. -3- 5. MATCHING FUNDS AND SURPLUS PROPERTIES The processing of requests from State and local governments for financial and other assistance is being expedited. Verbal appli- cations subject to written confirmation can be approved where justified. Requests for federal surplus property for use in State and local civil defense programs will receive priority treatment. Immediate expenditure of matching funds has been authorized for the purchase of supplies and equipment for State and local government emergency operating centers in shelter space identi- fied in the National Survey. Local governments should contact their State CD offices for further information. 6. USE OF STANDBY MILITARY RESERVISTS FOR CIVIL DEFENSE SERVICE The Department of Defense has authorized the use of standby military reservists on a voluntary basis for civil defense ser- vice at the request of civil defense authorities. The program includes officers of the four military services - enlisted reservists are not included in the program. • By December 15, 1962, the Military Services will have completed the screening of all eligible reservists. Detailed guidance is being furnished each State CD office out- lining the procedure for requesting assignment of reservists. Local governments should contact their State CD offices for information on this program. BILL PARKER Regional Director -4-