Guide for Civil Defense Action in the Washington Warning Area

“This booklet is your guide to action in the event of nuclear attack” – pg. 3

The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was first established as a government agency by President Truman in late 1950, as a direct response to the Soviet Union’s successful test of a nuclear weapon. Civilian defense planning focused on the survivability of global nuclear war, including constructing and stocking fallout shelters, evacuation plans, and other preparatory and mobilization material. Such efforts were generally disseminated through local committees organized in conjunction with related groups like the American Red Cross, United Service Organization, Boy Scouts of America, etc. until the FDCA was merged with the Office of Defense Mobilization in 1958.

This map and accompanying pamphlet were issued by the successor organization, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, in 1959. The large double-sided sheet shows evacuation routes and railroad loading points in bright red across the entirety of the Washington Evacuation Zone. The city plan of Washington, D.C. includes traffic regulations for Civil Defense Vehicles and restricted boundary limits in effect during the day and night.

The sixteen-page leaflet includes information on warning signals, traffic patterns, radiation protection, necessary survival items, and more. A fascinating domestic relic from our nation’s capital during the Cold War.