Evening star., 1951-04-16
Rockville Cited
For lis Work on
Civil Defense
Would Be Key Point
For Support if D. c.
Is Hit by A-Bomb
1. By Crosby S. Moves

One OF the few bright spots on
the Washington area civil de-
tense horizon is to- be found in
Rockville, Md, a key point for
support and evacuation if an
atom bomb should be dropped on
the District.
From time to time, to be sure,
Montgomery County officials have
complained that the town has
shown small inclination to CO.
operate in overall county plans
for civil defense. But apart from
that issue, the fact is that the
community has tackled its own
problems with an energy and
enthusiasm worthy of imitation.
Held AS An Example.
In fact, Rockville is being held
up by spokesmen of the Federal
Civil Defense Administration as a
fine example of what small COM
munities throughout the country
should be doing, and seldom are.
Not all communities, of course,
enjoy Rockville's special advan-
tages in developing civil defense
organization. For instance, some
of the problems that seem hope
lessly complicated in a city the
size of Washington are quickly
dealt with in the small closely
knit community nearby.
Perhaps Rockville's unique
head start lies in it's civil defense
director, a medal-o honor Marine
colonel named Joseph M. Cham
bers. Among other things. Col
Chambers happens to be one of
the country's leading authorities
on civil defense. AS an expert of
the Senate Armed Services Com
mittee, he played a leading role
last winter in writing the Nat
ional Civil Defense Law.
AS Rockville's civil defense di-
rector he has beeen given the op-
portunity which comes rarely to
experts-the chance to see how
theories work out in practice. The
process, he admits, has provided
him with a liberal education.
Rockville has approached its
problems with a realism that a
District resident might find dis
turbing.
Destruction in City.
It has been assumed, for plan
ming purposes. that an atom bomb
attack on the District would
smash all bridges to the south;
knock out all utilities and tele-
phone communication and de-
stroy a large part Of the city.
This situation would put Rock
vile, lying II miles northwest of
the target area at the junction of
three important roads, in a par
ticularly warm spot.
In planning. it is being as
sumed that the town itself would
be relatively unchanged. Al
though recognizing the possibility
of an enemy bombardier's in
accuracy, Col. Chambers points
out that "if bomb falls on Rock
vile well have no problems"
A hit On the target, on the
other hand, would bring problems
aplenty to the community of
5000 residents. And Rockville,
contrary to the general pattern
of inertia and apathy, is setting
out to solve them in advance.
It's expected, for instance, that
traffic into and out of the damage
area will be too heavy for the
towns three constables to cope
with. So a force of so citizens has
been signed up as auxiliary police,
and has begun training. It is a
picked group, controlled by a
lawyer, and the rank and file in
cludes some of the towns most.
solid citizens.
To provide manpower for the
civil defense organization, a
warden force of about 300 men
and women will be necessary.
Recruitment is about IS per cent
complete.
QuestiOnnaires Distributed.
These wardens have distributed
to each of the towns 1000 homes
a detailed QUESTIONABLE. 1t asks
for detailed information on each
family member, the hours when
he can be expected at home, and
any special skills he may have. It
asks about the construction of
the house. whether there are any
special hazards; what type of
heat and cooking facilities it has;
what extra room there is, and
whether it contains a generator
or other special equipment. There
is space for recording special care
required by any household in
valids.
This type of report, which has
not yet been duplicated elsewhere
in the Washington area, will pro-
vide Rockville civil defense lead
ers with invaluable information.
1t will tell them, for instance,
where space is available to house
between 5000 to 10000 refugees
that are expected to be quartered
in the town and how to cook for
them if the electricity is cut off,
as expected. 1t will also tell them
where to look for the generators
that will be vitality needed for
emergency power.
Rockville's volunteer fire de-
partment of IS men and three
trucks has been told it must ex-
pand enough to be able to fight
fires in the damaged area for 72
hours, providing its own reliefs.
Thirty-five additional men, all
NURSES NEEDED
Registration of all women
with nursing training is ur-