Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-18
Civil Defense
Plans Speedup
Of Warnings
Central Control
Point for AIRED
Being Projected

Plans looking toward faster
civil defense warning coverage
Of the Washington Metropolitan
Area were described today to
some 200 employer representa-
tiyes attending a symposium on
emergency planning for BUSH
ness and commercial interests.
Col. Barnet Beers. project
manager for the survival plan
project in this area. said that
despite the accomplishments
toward q good warning system.
there are limitations involving
relays.
Throughout the area there
probably are as many as II re-
lays before the warning reaches
some segments Of the area, he
pointed out.
Centralized Control Planned
He said the planners are
about to propose for the APP
proval Of Maryland. Virginia
and District officials, the in
stallation of q centralized con-
troll point with direct lines to
audible signals, sirens and
horns so that most Of the sig
mails could be activated at one
time.
Col. Beers said also that at
tempts would be made to aug
ment the entire system by get
ting more coyerage.
He described the Washing
ton Metropolitan Area Civil De-
Tense Survival Plan at q SYM
postum sponsored jointly by the
Disaster Protection Committee
lof the Washington Board of
Trade and the District Once
of Civil Defense. The meeting
was held in the auditorium Of
the Perpetual Building Asso-
citation.
In addition to Col. Beers
description Of the area survival
plan, the symposium heard
talks on the effects Of nuclear
weapons on a typical target
area and on the national pro-
gram for emergency planning
by private enterprise preceding
a more detailed consideration
Of business and commercial
planning.
Speakers included Dean
Harry L. Bowman. Atomic
Energy Commission consultant
from the Drexel Institute in
Philadelphia: Kenneth Ed
munds. acting director Of tech
meal advisory services Of the
Federal Civil Defense region,
and Paul White, Federal Civil
Defense Administration attack
warning officer.
I Avoid Baltimore Exodus
Discussing the population
movement phase Of civil de-
Tense planning. Col. Beers said
exodus plans had to take into
considerations Of avoiding the
probable" most dangerous fall
out area eastward from the area
and avoiding q conflict with the
Baltimore exodus.
He said the planners are pro-
posing to the authorities q plan
that would get people moving
in the northwest, west and
southwest directions, using as
a central point rather than
a downtown location an arc in
the area Of Nebraska avenue,
Military road and Missouri ave-
nue..
South Of this line, area resi-
dents would move southwark
rather than northward into n
possible conflict with the Bal
timore exodus or into the most
probable fallout area.
Blast Effects Shown
Dean Bowman described the
devastating effects on build
ings Of bomb blasts, using as
illustrations examples Of build
ings in Nagasaki and Hiro-
shima.
He recommended a choice
Of two extremes" in design
ing buildings with the possi-
bility Of bomb blasts in mind
either monolithically poured
reinforced concrete walls or
some material which would
shatter easily. such as asbestos.
Concrete or other type blocks
and bricks, he pointed out, can
become missiles with q bomb
blast.
you need something that
will shatter easily or something
that will stand" he said.