Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-08-08
State Maps
Disaster Plan

lernor's staff with officials of the
agencies both State and Federal
involved. Widespread knowledge
and use of the plan was urged
by the Governor to avert if pos.
sible such tragedy as that which
struck Louisiana as result of
Hurricane Audrey. df
Primary purpose of the plan is
to have as wide as possible dis
senination of advance warnings
of storm danger particularly
those involving high tide and
flood dangers. The United States
Weather Bureau, one of the co..
operating Agencies in developing
the plan, is chiefly concerned
about last-minute changes in fore
cast that might occur after hours
in which Marylanders could be-
alerted by normal news media
channels. III
vVOntAht5f EUCSpOihSiDuty
The Weather Bureau at Friend
ship Airport has the primary re-
sponsibility for weather informas
ton and it's dissemination. Other
Federal Agencies will also assist
in relaying the information. This
plan has been coordinated with the
Maryland Military District. the
Coast Guard, the Army Engineers
and the Red Cross. W
On the State Agency level
weather warnings will be relayed
from the Weather Bureau to the
State Police Headquarters in
Pikesville. The State Police will
relay the information to State
Civil Defense authorities as we'll
as to local Civil Defense officials
local police, the State Department
of Tidewater Fisheries and to citp
liens in remote areas. This relay
Of information by the State Pc.
lice will be accomplished by a fan
out system of communications
with the information relayed
from Pikesville to the State Poi
lice barrack or barracks in the afi
fected areas. y
Upon notice OF seriously dam
gerous conditions the Maryland
Civil Defense Agency will actKl
vate its Control Center at Pixies.
vile and then will confirm by its
own COMMUNICATIONS that all To-
cal Civil Defense officials have
been alerted. Notice of action be-
ing taken will be also relayed to
the Governor; the Adjutant Cen
eral Of Maryland; Chief, Maryland
Military District; U. S. Coast
Guard, Baltimore Group; U. S.
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore
District; State Roads Commission
and the American Red Cross,
Maryland representative.
Signing the plan for their Agen-
cies were Colonel Elmer F. Mum
shower, superintendent, Maryland
State Police; Sherley Ewing, di-
rector, Maryland Civil Defense
Agency; Major General Milton A..
Reckord, adjutant general, Mary.
land National Guard; Robert o.
Bonnell, chairman, State Roads
Commission and John P. Tawes,
chairman, Department Of Tidewa.
ter Fisheries. =
Local Planning Need
The signatories of the plan said
In a statement that, 'The real ef-
fectiveness Of the program de.
ponds upon the preparation plann-
ed locally where ultimate respon.
sibility, authority, knowledge,
rnanpower and resources exist"
1t Is anticipated that each area Of
potential danger will devise some
means Of which the people will be
aware - such as the ringing of
church bells or the sounding of
sirens - to arouse residents from
sleep and send them to their ra-
dos when developing conditions
threaten catastrophe.
Also covered is an emergency
operations phase. AS outside re-
quests for assistance are received
from localities throughout the
State, they will be coordinated at
the State Civil Defense Control
Center.
Outlined Is assistance from
State Agencies as follows: State
Police initial leadership and
traffic control; National Guard
security protection of property;
State Roads Commission - fur
nishing of trucks and other heavy
equipment as well as advice on
road conditions; Tidewater Fish.
cries Commission - use of boats
and radio communications for
warning or rescuing people from
areas Isolated by water.