Some issues in emergency management. Public views in 1987. Final report, August-December 1987

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5865235

Nehnevajsa, J

This report presents an overview of findings, derived from a 1987 national telephone survey, on current public sentiment as it relates to numerous crucial civil defense issues and concerns. A primary objective is to provide empirically based insight into some of the common arguments, presented as reflecting public attitudes and perceptions, that must be evaluated as decisions on complex national policy alternatives are weighed. Emergency planning and preparedness measures, in place or considered for future implementation, that address the threat of national disasters, technological hazards, and particularly those relevant to the threat of a nuclear confrontation are explored. The public's perception of what the principal goals of civil defense should be is questioned. Their acceptance of a nuclear attack as a credible threat is assessed, as well as their estimates of probable survival rates under a variety of passive defense conditions. The perceived viability and value of alternative civil-defense measures and the public's expectations regarding governmental responsibility for implementing such measures are explored. Willingness to finance such measures or to reallocate existing funds to civil defense efforts is reported as another indication of support. The acceptability of crisis relocation is evaluated through inquiries into the public's support for the development of a national relocation plan, their intentions to evacuate when threatened, either spontaneously or in compliance to a Presidential directive and their expectations of such a directive becoming a reality.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA). Univ. Center for Social and Urban Research
• OSTI ID: 5865235
• Report Number(s): AD-A-207169/4/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202 -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
990500* -- Civilian Defense-- (-1987)
ATTITUDES
CIVIL DEFENSE
DISASTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EMERGENCY PLANS
ENERGY
EVACUATION
HAZARDS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROBABILITY
PROGRESS REPORT
PUBLIC OPINION
SURVEYS
WARFARE
WEAPONS