Day Without End: Duties Of A Civil Defense Director (1964)

[Music] a town in the United States a town in the nuclear age it's early evening two sit in an office in the town hall the mayor of the Town Sam rice and civil defense director Bill Logan I think we finally got something going here s there are still some bugs in it but at least we're on the way good what have you got there well first of all here's a revised disaster plan I've been working on looks like you've been burning the midnight oil burning it I run clean dryer this stuff Sam one of the main problems we've got to work out is Communications I thought we were in pretty good shape there we're going to need more Communications equipment of the Emergency Operating Center well how much do you fig it'll cost here's the brochure on the unit I think we should have I know I know it's more money than we figured on spending but Communications is one of the most important parts of the whole civil defense system and we don't have nearly enough even with the federal government matching funds program this is going to cost a bundle well how much is emergency protection worth say what kind of a price tag do you put on the safety of our wives and kids you don't have to sell me remember civil defense is my responsibility to start with the council they think we're spending too much money already it's about time they realize that we've got to extend ourselves a little if we're ever going to get any kind of adequate emergency program in this town Bill Logan former officer in the United States Army now retired and appointed by mayor rice as civil defense director one year ago a man with a difficult job emergency protection against enemy attacks protection against Natural Disasters when and if they occur Bill wants his town to be ready with a well organized emergency plan a plan that could save lives and property many of the larger municipalities have full-time paid directors some civil defense directors serve voluntarily on a part-time basis Bill Logan is a full-time man but his work day is never long enough for all the things he has to do take today for instance 900 a.m. a meeting with Harry Coy in charge of shelter management instruction for the town his problem not enough people are taking the shelter management course shelter management is one of the most important elements in today's civil defense system handling of lar groups of people in disaster situations calls for special knowledge of many kinds measures against nuclear disaster in particular demand completely new techniques and approaches it was at civil defense director Logan's suggestion that Harry attended a federal civil defense shelter management instruction course so he could come back and teach others at school Harry was impressed with the amount of civil defense planning been written up for instruction purposes the possibility of nuclear warfare in our time has produced a library of civil defense studies which anticipates as far as possible the nature of the nuclear threat and ways in which its devastating effects might be contained but if Harry Coy is going to use this knowledge to good Advantage he's got to have people to teach many willing to learn say they just can't take the time heard it many times since he became the town civil defense Director people always had so much to do bill has an idea maybe if they were to arrange a Public Presentation work up a program that would make the people realize how important civil defense was to each of them they might create more support for civil defense activities bill will look into just as he will follow up on many other matters during the day 10 a.m. a visit to the owner of an office building on Main Street to see about the space to which shelter Provisions are to be delivered well suppose we store them over here in these closets that way I won't have to move any of my storage suppli Mr L there's not enough room there what about this section off the lower main Corridor do it we use that for temporary rles you'd be surprised how many people want space for just a few months isn't there any room at all off that Carter you could make available for the shelter provision I don't see where look don't get me wrong I'm for civil defense 100% but I got to think of my business well now wait a minute there at the other end of the corer you've got some space mark development what's that for well it's not being used right now we're keeping that open for future plans that's an idea I could let you put the shelter Provisions right in here civil defense is future plans isn't it I'm glad you see it that way Mr Mor 11:15 a.m. a phone call to Herman bis a local mover Arrangements have to be made to pick up the shelter Provisions from the federal warehouse and deliver them to Mr Loren's building pick up and delivery from Warehouse to community shelter where the provisions will be stored is the responsibility of the local government Mr bis is offering the use of one of his trucks without charge a fact for which director Logan ever aware of his limited budget is very grateful 1145 a.m. a visit from Bob Martinson in charge of radiological training radiation detection instruments supplied by the federal government to local communities have arrived has checked out the equipment and reports it in good order he also tells bill that there has been a good turnout for radiological defense classes 12 noon a speaking engagement at a luncheon of a local Civic group often the civil defense director will be called upon to present talk here he has an opportunity to discuss local defense problems and the need for understanding and support of emergency programs I know it's hard for most of us to imagine what an actual nuclear emergency would be like we'd rather not think about it but somebody's got to do the thinking and the planning just in case the need should arise and as remote as the possibility may seem it is a possibility if this country should ever become the victim of a nuclear attack hundreds maybe thousands of our towns would be affected more than anything else there would be a need a great need for protection against dangerous radioactive fallout contrary to what a lot of people may think it is possible for our country to survive a nuclear attack if we are prepared for it with an adequate civil defense that defense begins right here in our town in each and every town throughout the country we all need public Fallout shelters more public Fallout shels we need equipment for them we need people trained in the special skills of civil defense we need the support of our Municipal governments finally and most of all we need a plain Common Sense approach to the whole problem of civil defense inad have a lot of emotional and defe attitudes 1:30 p.m. a meeting with the town engineer to examine a plan for providing emergency services in case normal power sources are not available local private utility companies will be checked to determine the extent of their standby facilities bill will also contact highway police and fire departments to explore means of augmenting their capabilities to me a possible nuclear emergency or natural disaster 23 p.m. a visit to a local Women's Club for a meeting with the club officers the Women's Club presents a gift to the local emergency organization in the form of a check covering the cost of Cs and blankets for one of the town's larger public shelters since federal government shelter Provisions include only survival items such as food water and sanitation equipment the check for the comfort items is good news to the local Civil Authorities oh uh by the way Mrs Clark do you think that some of your other club members might be willing to help us out with the presentation we're planning why yes I'm quite sure several of us would be interested good we're going to need a fairly large place for the presentation I think I can help you there Mr Logan my husband is manager of the movie house here in town I'm sure he'll be able to arrange for you to use a theater fine we'll want to show a few short films present some demonstrations first aid survival techniques the kind of things family should be concerned with perhaps some of your other club members or their husbands might be willing to take part if they have some special knowledge they might have some bearing on civil defense I majored in Psychology in college Mr Logan and I once did a paper on group dynamics it wasn't directly involved with Cil defense but if there's anything that I can do it shouldn't be hard to apply your background in the shelter situation for instance some very thorough psychological Studies have been done on mass behavior in shelter I'm sure you'll be able to make a very interesting contribution to the program perhaps we can run a trailer at the theater advertising the civil defense presentation say what about a telephone campaign reminding people of the date good idea I'd like to see a big turnout for this to this side should have more people involved in emergency planning why don't we circulate a questioner asking people to list any special skills they may have I know several of our members have taken courses in home nursing Mrs Sanders nephew has an amateur radio license I'm sure he'd be willing to help out the civil defense director will try to make use of the talents of every available person who might be able to contribute in some way to emergency preparation even Hobbies or Spare Time activities might be constructively put to use in civil defense programs a shortwave amate radio operator could serve in the local emergency communications setup the photographic hobbyist may be enlisted to put together a pictorial presentation of the Town civil defense activities Bill Logan knows that civil defense is not a Onan job and that the citizens May possess many possibilities for assistance 4:30 pm a visit to a factory on the outskirts of town when checked as part of the federal government's National fallout shelter survey program this building met government standards as a public shelter bill has obtained the owner signature on a federal license indicating the owner's consent to use the building 515m on the way back to the office a call at a firehouse to check on arrangements for a training exercise in rescue operations which is to be held at the shopping center plaza test alerts and exercises must be held periodically 5:45 p.m. back at his office bill underes further administrative details of organizing planning and budgeting in case of nuclear attack the services of all government agencies and Departments of the community might be required simultaneously new functions not normally a part of regular government must be provided for the civil defense director as a representative of the local government is responsible for seeing that the town is adequately supplied and staff to meet all emergency needs 7 p.m. Bill take some of his problems to his friend and boss mayor rice the clock on the wall has long since registered the end of the work day but for men like Bill Logan deeply involved with civil defense planning for his community the day has no end bill is just one civil defense director in one American Town those who have taken on civil defense leadership in other municipalities and Rural districts throughout the nations may have different problems to cope with depending on the needs of their communities but all will share the basic responsibility of protection for their people during emergency in order to continue doing his job successfully Bill Logan and all civil defense directors must keep in mind the objectives of the national civil defense program to provide Fallout protection for all of this nation citizens to develop the means to give timely warning to the nation of impending attack and attack Hazard to develop effective control and direction of Emergency Operations at all levels of government to an effective emergency Communication System among governmental authorities and with the public to develop the capability to collect evaluate and disseminate information on radioactive fallouts to develop and operate systems whereby the nature and extent of damage resulting from enemy attack can be evaluated within the fr work of these objectives the local civil defense director functions as staff coordinator for his community's emergency planning and operations the civil defense job is a big one often frustrating sometimes rewarding it's a job that comes with the realities of our time a challenge that can be met through civil defense leaders who understand the threat and have the ability to prepare their communities to meet it e [Music]