Evening star., 1955-06-23
Evacuation Agreed On

On April z, Commissioner
Samuel Spencer and Col. Fon-
dahl went to the White House.
They conferred with President
Eisenhower and National Secur-
1ity Council members.
What was discussed was not
disclosed. But three weeks later
Mr.. Spencer announced that 100
per cent evacuation of the Capt.
tai would thereafter be- the Off
cial policy in case of warning of
an attack.
1--WE figure it is feasible" he
said, "to evacuate past circle
n miles from the center of day
time population and still find
shelter" ,s.
Zone A for a SOCK bomb, a
circle with a 4-mile radius, is
estimated to have daytime
population of $4,000. The day
time population for Zone B is
estimated at an additional 488,-
900. Seven miles from the CEN
ter would near the outer edge
of Zone B.
| Mr.. Spencer told Congress
later that "it is probable there
would be a warning time Of an
hour" He said this may be in
creased to four hours in the fu-
ture. Presumably he had in
mind the completion of the
DEW defense Early Warning)
line of radar stations in the
northern reaches of Canada.
One-Way Out
Thinking of an emergency
Evacuation most people think OF
such a frenzied jamming of cars
there are AT, 900 vehicles in
the Washington area - that
movement would be impossible.
But civil defense officials say
the District can be cleared in
from two to four hours. All the
main streets would be one-way
streets outbound. Traffic sig
mails would be turned off or dis
regarded. There would be no
cross traffic permitted.
Cars not carrying capacity
loads would take the outer lanes
and pick up people who are
walking. Loaded cars would take
the inner lanes. A survey estab-
Ilished there would be 73 traffic
lanes along the main escape
routes.
Northern Virginia estimates
300, 900 persons would be evacu-
ated across the Potomac River
bridges. The adjacent areas of
both Northern Virginia and
Maryland also have adopted
evacuation as their plan. They
also plan to support the District
i'm it's evacuation and cooperate
in the care of the refugees.
It is estimated $4,000 to so, 900
persons could be taken out Of the
city by trains.
The automobile traffic would be
separated between north and
south. Cars north Of q line ten
tatively drawn from M street in
Georgetown and running along
Pennsylvania avenue NV. H
street and Massachusetts, avenue,
would head north. Those south
of that line would go south,
chiefly to Virginia.
This would mean families
would become separated, but the
rule would be: Get out first
reunite later"
The wind direction and fallout
pattern would be plotted and
those fleeing would be warned
away by radio from areas OF
danger or expected danger.
The idea of shelters is NOT
being abandoned. In case o1
little warning or if the warning
time runs out, people will be
directed to take shelter.
HoNseholders are urged tc
build shelters in their Easements
or concrete and earth shelters
in their back yards. The Civil
Defense Office will supply direc-
tions and plans.
| People are urged to have on
hand a seven-day supply of food
per person and water for a
similar period. The food should
be as far as possible in dehy-
drafted form or other small bulk
and packed so it can be placed in
a car If flight is feasible ano
necessary. The bulk of the water
could be reduced by carrying
halezone tablets, which would