Nuclear crisis of 1979. Final report. [Civil defense planning]

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7325780

Brown, W M

This study depicts a sequence of hypothetical strategic events which create an intense nuclear crisis in the summer of 1979. A parallel sequence sketches U.S. civilian responses to these frightening developments including, eventually, the ordering of a mass movement of the urban population into the less risky host areas, generally the smaller towns and rural regions. Some of the major problems anticipated for the planning of this civil defense option without increasing the current modest budget are discussed. Most of the physical preparations are handled by a rapid mobilization of the civilian population and existing resources that becomes effective, since the scenario provides several weeks for the mobilization and the population responds vigorously to the perceived threat. The survival prospects appear to be quite promising if the federal government can provide timely legal and financial policies together with technical assistance while avoiding undue bureaucratic requirements. A series of vignettes portrays an unfolding picture of the nuclear crisis, the mobilization which leads to the relocation of the population, the movement and the reception in the host areas, and the responses during a somewhat protracted evacuation. The final scenarios resolve the crisis in two possible ways: a negotiated peace and a large malevolent attack. In each case the aftermath is presented and briefly analyzed.

• Research Organization: Department of Defense, Washington, D.C. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7325780
• Report Number(s): CPG-2-8-5(Draft)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CIVIL DEFENSE
PLANNING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
RADIATION PROTECTION
BEHAVIOR
ECONOMY
EDUCATION
FOOD
HEALTH HAZARDS
LOCAL FALLOUT
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RURAL AREAS
SAFETY
SHELTERS
SUBSURFACE STRUCTURES
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
URBAN POPULATIONS
FALLOUT
HAZARDS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
POPULATIONS
WEAPONS
990500* - Civilian Defense- (-1987)