Civil Defense

As the war began to advance in weaponry beyond the battlefields into the city and towns, the government leaders began to worry about the safety of their citizens. In 1916 the U.S. government began to plan for civil defense. They created the Council of National Defense (CND). Civil defense consisted of non-military people that protected civilians and their property against enemy attack. The defense system consisted of warning sirens, patrols along the national borders, and info on emergence survival.

A few months into the war American citizens were not very enthusiastic. President Roosevelt changed the CND to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on May 20, 1941. He changed it hoping the OCD activities would boost the civilian support on the war. Each state had their own civil defense systems, and by November 1941 every state had their own systems.

References
http://www.lansdownecivic.com/Pages/hometown_stories/4_defense.html

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Civil_Defence_and_War_Damage_During_World_War_2

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3428500019.html

-Karen Mendoza-