ESCAPE FROM THE H-BOMB For Forth Worth and Tarrant County Texas

In Case of Attack You Can Still Survive…

This rather bleak leaflet was issued to residents of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas, by the local branch of the Office of Civil Defense. While it is undated, the ‘situation’ in the text likely references the Cuban Missile Crisis, indicating it was probably issued in October of 1962. The 13-day standoff between the U.S.S.R. and the United States over the stationing of thermonuclear missiles was an extreme flashpoint. Tarrant County was home to Carswell Air Force Base and Fort Worth was considered a primary target for attack.

The pamphlet offers a brief glimmer of hope for locals to escape – though in the event of a missile strike, chances of survival were slim. A straightforward street map highlights the primary avenues for evacuation and traffic direction. Accompanying instructions reference the emergency signal, suggest a survival kit, and offer a reminder to ‘protect yourself against fallout.’ Further information on the evacuation plan is provided on the verso.