The Federal Civil Defense Authority was established in the
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national sec ...
(DOD), by DOD Directive 5105.43, May 5, 1972.
Predecessor agencies
*
Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA),
Office for Emergency Management
The Office for Emergency Management (OEM) was an office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, United States President. It was established by administrative order, May 25, 1940, in accordance with executive order Execu ...
(OEM), Executive Office of the President (EOP, 1950–1951)
* FCDA (1951–1958)
*
Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization (ODCM), EOP (1958)
*
Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization
The Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, created in 1958 originally as Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization, was an office of the Executive Office of the President of the United States which consolidated the functions of the existing O ...
(OCDM), EOP (1958–1961)
*
Office of Civil Defense (OCD), DOD (1961–1964)
* OCD,
United States Department of the Army
The United States Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the U.S. The Department of the Army is the federal government agency within which the United States Army (U.S.) is or ...
, DOD (1964–1972)
Functions
It coordinated and directed federal, state, and local
civil defense program activities, including
fallout shelter
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designated to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War.
During ...
s;
chemical, biological, and radiological warfare defense; emergency communications and warning systems; post-attack assistance and damage assessment; preparedness planning; and government continuity.
Abolished
By EO 12148, July 20, 1979, retroactive to July 15, 1979, pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978, effective April 1, 1979.
Successor agencies
*
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Ex ...
(FEMA).
See also
*
Federal Civil Defense Administration
References
Agencies of the United States government
Defunct agencies of the United States government
United States civil defense
{{US-gov-stub