Defending Americas Future PDF Download

Since its creation by an Act of Congress in 1950, Civil Defense or CD has had what might be called a 'mission Impossible.' With fewer that 400 fulltime employees and a barebones budget - $138 million for fiscal year 1992, or about 1/20th of 1% of the Pentagon's budget, the CD program has been responsible for planning, coordinating and administering emergency efforts that literally could involve national survival. As mandated by Congress, the program is charged with providing a national 'system of civil defense for the protection of life and property in the United States from attack and from natural disasters.' By "attack", Congress meant "any manner of sabotage or the use of bombs, shellfire, or atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological, or biologic means or other weapons or processes." The term "natural disaster" was even more all-inclusive. It means, sald the Civil Defense Act of 1950, "hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tsunami (commonly called a tidal wave), earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, or other catastrophe in any part of the U.S. which may cause substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons. Likewise perhaps as an afterthought, the lawmakers added that "any explosion, civil disturbance or any other manmade catastrophe shall be deemed to be a natural disaster," and therefore included in the Civil Defense organization's responsibility.