Evening star., 1950-09-19
Planning for Survival

the National security resources BOarQ
guidebook on civil defense planning deals real
istically with a very grim problem-Survival in
event of an atomic attack on this country.
Described in the long-awaited report is new
kind of civil defense, one in which there is
no room for dancing or other morale building
programs 1t is not pleasant to think about the
perilS of atomic warfare, but nevertheless the
threat must be faced squarely by the Nation,
by every community and BY every citizen. For,
as the book points out, "for the first time in
1876 years an enemy has the power to attack
our cities in strong force, and for the first
time in our history that attack may come sud-
denly with little or no warning" To be reasonably
well prepared to cope with such an attack is
our only hope if the worst should come. The
report furnishes a blueprint for Federal, State
and local planning and organization along
prudent and practicable lines.
The board has attempted to prepare COM
promise between the unattainable maximum
security of Nation gone underground and the
dangerous other extreme of doing little or
nothing and hoping that potential enemies will
leave us alone. There is no suggestion that
Washington or other prime targets be moved
elsewhere or that the entire population be pro-
vided with bomb proof shelters. Instead the
report lays down general policies and procedures
for moving promptly-but cautiousy-to set up
national, State and local civil defense agencies
to organize and train every community to make
the best possible use of available resources.
Federal and State legislation will be required
to carry out the whole program effectively, but
great deal can be done in a preliminary way.
President Truman'S establishment of a tenn
porary Civil Defense Administration is an ex-
ample which the States can follow to advantage,
pending legislative action. The board recon-
mendS creation by Congress of a permanent
agency to supervise and advise all levels Of
civil defense planning and action 1t is repeatedly
emphasized in the report that the whole effort
must be a cooperative one, with the Federal
Government, the States, municipalities and in
dividual citizens sharing the responsibilities,
according to their means.
Of special interest to Washington are the
boards suggestions for orderly planning and
its warning against precipitate action. 1t listed
as the first step in an orderly program the
formation of civil defense council representing
all interested agencies and groups in the COM
munity followed by appointment of a civil
defense director. Proposed legislation to accom-
plish these two steps was included in the report
Congress meanwhile has draSticaly cut the
appropriations for civil defense in the District
"a serious blow to local planning The District
has neither council nor director, but it has begun
organizing civil police reserve corps-listed by
the board as subsequent step And in connection
with the police reserve plan the board said:
volunteer forces should not be hastily organized
clothed with police authority and armed with
police weapons" This is good advice for any
community.
Mutual aid' and mobile support" are
terms frequently used by the board in reference
to the proposals for inter -jurisdictional CO.
ordination. There is need for regional planning
in the Washington Metropolitan Area to bring
about this co-ordination-not only of police
departments throughout the area, but of fire,
traffic, water supply and other public services.
This is matter of Self-preservation vital to
every resident of Washington and the nearby
counties in case of an atomic or other major
disaster The National Security Resources Board
has drawn up pattern of preparedness for the
common welfare that deserves earnest attention
of Congress- Federal executive agencies, State
governments, city authorities and other public
and private groups. This is phase of national
security that has been too long neglected be-
cause of the lack in the past of adequate
overall guidance.