The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-19
Fiue Report Centers
Already Established
Recreation Room of Police Department Made
Central Headquarters Messages From
Wardens to Be Accepted in Event of
Necessity or Emergency.

slight and relay to the chief report
center any incident that seems to
be of serious nature or that may
become serious. This system will
prevent the chief report center from
being deluged with all kinds of re-
ports, many of them perhaps of
trifling Importance and which
could be handled by the fire watch
ers and WardenS on the spot
The recreation room of the po-
lice department has been fitted out
as the chief report center. This is
a large room, below the ground
surface. One wall is covered with
large map showing the entire city
of Waterbury, the boundaries of
the four zones, the location of all
fire houses, hospitals, large indus
trial plants, school houses, etc. The
map will also show the location of
the medical stations set up in the
zones, and the quarters of auxiliary
firemen. Pins with vari-colored
heads will be used for this purpose.
AS the fire companies or medical
units are dispatched to the scene of
any incident, the pins on the map
will likewise be moved, so that a
glance at the map will instantly
show where the incidents are and
what help has been sent there.
A large T shaped table faces the
map, and in the event of a raid, the
Chief Air Raid Warden, representa-
tives of the Fire and Police Depart
ments, the Medical Department, Red
Cross, the Telephone Electric Light,
Gas Company, Water department
etc. will all assemble around that
table. In one corner, a number of
telephone booths have been built and
a group OF telephone operators will
receive all messages and hand their
reports to the Chief Air Raid War
den. He will scan them and in turn
hand them over to the Fire Chief,
Medical Officer or whichever service
seems to be required for each in
dividual job. These officials will
then read the report, observe the To-
cation and nature OF the damage,
contact by phone their own services
nearest the scene and dispatch the
required aid The colored pins on
the map will be moved correspond
ingly. On their return to their re-
spective stations, the pins are moved
back. Thus clear picture of what
Is happening throughout the city as
a whole. will be constantly before
that table of officials.
How and what a Warden Reports.
Upon going to the scene of a bomb
ing, the Warden will carefully note
the damage--the type Of bomb, ex-
plosive incendiary or gas. He must
observe If any water or gas mains
have been broken, electric cables
ruptured or sewers put out OF COM
mission. He must list any fires start
ed and note whether they are Of mi
nor or major Importance. He must
indicate the streets closed by shell
he must jot down on his report form
and Immediately telephone to his
Zone Report Center. He will use
the nearest phone available-not
necessarily the phone in the War
den'S Post.
The Warden alone will report all
incidents. Householders are not to
telephone for aid. Report Centers
will accept messages only from the
Wardens and the telephone service
should be solely at their service dur
ing a raid. The Householder should
give his information to the Warden
who will then send any messages
necessary. This IS to prevent over
loading the. telephone service at a
critical moment.
(TOMORROW-Brief Description
of Warden's Work..