US CIVIL DEFENSE POLICY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87B01034R000600120004-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 3, 1982
• Content Type: REGULATION

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Approved For Release 2007/07/19: CIA-RDP87B01034R000600120004-3
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION
171RECTIVE ,NUMBER "23 .
February 3, 1982
US CIVIL DEFENSE POLICY
It is the policy of the United States to enhance the.
deterrence of strategic nuclear war through a strong and
balanced program of 'strategic forces, including effective
capabilities for strategic defense. Civil Defense, along
with an effective Continuity of Government program,
emergency mobilization, and secure and reconstitutable
telecommunications systems, is an essential ingredient of our
nuclear deterrent forces. It is a matter of national
priority that the US'have a Civil Defense program which
provides for the survival of the US.populatioia even in a
protracted general war involving, nuclear destruction in the
United States. -
The Program
Accordingly, I direct that the US Civil Defense program
provide an improved basis for dealing with crises and carrying
out eventual national recovery.. The US Civil Defense program.
will:
-- Enhance deterrence-and stability in conjunction with our-
strategic offensive and other strategic defensive forces.
Civil Defense, as an element of the strategic balance,
should assist in maintaining perceptions that this
balance is favorable to the US.
- Reduce the possibility that the US could be coerced in
time of crisis.
-= Provide for' *survival ofl lof the US
population in the event of nuclear at acs. preceded by
strategic warning, and for continuity of government,
should deterrence and escalation control fail.
-- Provide, as an additional desirable benefit, improved
ability'to deal with natural disasters and other
large-scale.domestic emergencies.
This policy complements primary US reliance on strategic
offensive nuclear forces as the preponderant factor in
maintaining deterrence.
NSC review completed.
SECRET
Review January 7, 1988
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Implementation
To implement the foregoing policies, the President directs
that the program consist of three major elements and adhere to
the following timetable:
-- Poeulation Protection. By the end of 1987, the
development'of plans and deployment of supporting
operational systems will be completed to ensure the
survival of of the population
under circumstances of strategic warning. Primary
reliance will be placed on relocating the population
of US metropolitan and other potential high--risk
areas to surrounding areas of lower risk during
a period'of international crisis, taking advantage
-of extensive US transportation resources.
-- Industrial Protection. By the beginning of FY 1984,
analyses and preparations will be completed which will
allow a funding decision to be made on-a program to
protect key defense and-population relocation support
industries. These preparations will allow for-initial-
deployment of,an industrial protection system in-1985
and full-deployment by 1987.
Blast Sheltering.. By the beginning ofwFY 1984, analyses
and preparations will be completed which will allow a
,,funding. decision on blast shelters for key industrial
workers in defense and population relocation support
industries. Current analyses indicate 4 million blast
shelter.spaces will be required. This figure will be
used for initial planning and will be refined as analyses
proceed. These plans will allow for initial shelter.
deployment in 1985 and full deployment in 1987.
These measures-will fully support continuity of government,
survival and endurance in time of war.
assuring coordination between the Civil Defense program and
mobilization preparedness actions and programs, and the
preparation of semi-annual reports to the President.
Management
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will have overall
operational supervision of this program-.- Funds for the program
will be contained in the FEMA budget. In order to ensure
interagency cooperation and support in the program, the Civil
Defense Working Group of the Emergency Mobilization
Preparedness Board will be responsible for, among other things,
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SECRET 3
PD/NSC--41 is superseded by this Directive.
Approved For Release 2007/07/19: CIA-RDP87BO1034R000600120004-3