Simple question about Civil defence

[morchuflex]

Hello.

Call me dumb but... what IS civil defence? I know what it does in the game, but what in the real world does it represent?

 

[Lockesdonkey]

I suppose it represents the system of attack warnings, such as air-raid sirens, plans for "if a bomb is dropped" or "if the city is firebombed" plus possibly NORAD.

 

[Woodgar]

I always thought of it along the lines of a Home Guard type of thing, or, for those in the UK, something along the lines of Dad's Army.

That is to say, those not fit enough, or too old, or considered too vital to the local economy to be sent off to war, are given basic training and (possibly) arms to fight with in case the enemy break through the front lines.

 

[DBear]

morchuflex, ask anyone on the other side of 40.

 

[gmaharriet]

morchuflex, ask anyone on the other side of 40.

From my hazy childhood recollections (after the USSR had the atomic bomb, but before the hydrogen bomb was produced), it was someone assigned to a block or neighborhood to direct people to air raid shelters in case of an imminent bomb attack, to check up on elderly or disabled people and help them get to safety, to be the point person for contacting higher authorities about what was happening, and to give the all-clear when the threat was over. It could also refer to the authorities who determined whether or not there was a threat and told the local people what to do regarding sheltering or evacuations. Certainly it was civilians taking care of the home front.

I don't remember it ever being activated here in the U.S., but I believe WWII Britain had a very active civil defense network. If it's still active and were to be used here, I'd say it more likely used for dangers from floods, earthquakes or tornedos, rather than military threats.

 

[Admiral8Q]

Civil defense:
A range of emergency measures to be taken by an organized body of civilian volunteers for the protection of life and property in the event of natural disaster or enemy attack.

It's nonmilitary measures designed to protect civilians in wartime. In response to the use and destructiveness of military aircraft, civil defense greatly expanded in World War II. U.S. measures to meet the threat of long-distance carriers of nuclear weapons have been controversial and have included a warning system, survival planning, shelter construction, and stockpiling of necessities.

If you ever get a chance to watch one of the 50's "Nuclear Safety" films, they're quit unbelievable compared to what we know today. Here's one that jokes about them

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/131584

 

[Tom_Bombadil]

a bag of sand in every house and a bunker for those of more importance

 

[morchuflex]

Well, thanks everyone. That explains it.