INCREASED READINESS: United States. 1970s.  Increased Readiness (IR) provided local governments a structured way to increase civil preparedness under conditions of increased international tensions. Increased Readiness addressed 21 specific areas of governmental capability, keyed to Part G, Chapter 5, and the Appendices of the Federal Civil Defense Guide, as shown below in Table 1.

Table 39-1. Areas for Increased Readiness Actions

FCDG Appendix

Areas for Increased Readiness Actions

1

 Basic actions to increase overall governmental readiness

2

 Emergency public information
3 Significant public actions
4 Accelerated Civil Defense training
5 Improve or develop an emergency operations center
6 Direction and control readiness
7 Communications
8 Warning
9 Radiological defense
10 Increased public shelter inventory
11 Public works engineering
12 Rescue
13 Fire prevention and control under conditions of nuclear attack
14 Maintaining law and order under conditions of nuclear attack
15 Public shelter operational readiness
16 Emergency welfare
17 Health and medical
18 Local schools
19 Industry
20 Rural area readiness
21 Supply and use of resources following a nuclear attack

Four categories of Increased Readiness were established based on the types of actions and the possible level of public awareness of these actions.  Table 2, below summarizes the general characteristics of the actions at each category of readiness.

Table 39-2 - Categories of Increased Readiness

Category Government Action Public Awareness Types of Actions

D

 Final readiness actions prior to attack - require public involvement. Expected to raise substantial concern among the public. 1. Expedient work started on shelters.

2. Citizens urged to take all final actions short of taking shelter.

C

 Government mobilizes its staff and volunteer teams. Public would be aware of these activities and react with moderate to substantial concern. 1. Make emergency improvements to government buildings.

2. Fully staff key facilities.

3. Activate teams.

4. Brief all employees.

5. Preposition equipment as needed.

B

 Government alerts its staff and volunteer teams for possible emergency duty. Public becomes aware of readiness actions, resulting in moderate concern. 1. Start accelerated training.

2. Staff key facilities.

3. Inspect and start improvement and stocking of key facilities.

4. Increase public information activity.

A

 Local government takes internal actions to review plans and improve readiness of equipment. The public is expected not to react with more than a minimal level of concern, even when government actions are reported by news media. 1. Review and update plans and procedures.

2. Brief key officials and response teams.

3. Test existing systems.

4. Check equipment and fix deficiencies.

5. Review personnel assignments.

United States, Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Civil Defense Emergency Operations Reporting System: Local Increased Readiness Reporting Procedures, Washington, DC, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1978.

Entry 0239