Executive Order  No. 1: Providing for establishment of local civil defense organizations

WHEREAS, in the event of an emergency, major disaster or catastrophe in any part of the Commonwealth, the existing local facilities and resources where such emergency, disaster or catastrophe may occur, will certainly be inadequate to cope with conditions resulting therefrom; and

WHEREAS, it is possible that disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness may result from enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable to insure that the preparations of the Commonwealth will be adequate to deal with any such disaster, emergency or catastrophe and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, security and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the Commonwealth:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Paul A. Dever, Governor of the Commonwealth, acting under the provisions of Acts of 1950, chapter 639, and all other authority vested in me, do hereby issue this order as necessary preparatory step in advance of actual disaster, emergency or catastrophe.

1. The attention of mayors, city managers, selectmen and town managers is hereby directed to the following provisions of Acts of 1950, chapter 639, section 13:

"Each political subdivision of the commonwealth is hereby authorized and directed to establish a local organization for civil defense in accordance with the state civil defense plan and program."

"Each local organization for civil defense shall have a director, who shall, in the case of a city, be appointed by the mayor, or in a city having the Plan E form of government by the city manager, and in towns shall be appointed by the selectmen, or in towns having a town manager by the manager. . ."

2. Each of the appointing authorities above referred to who has not yet done so is hereby directed to appoint forthwith a director of the local organization for civil defense.

3. The name, address and telephone number of the director of the local organization for civil defense (hereinafter called the "local director"), so appointed, shall be forwarded by the appointing authority to the Director of Civil Defense of the Commonwealth (hereinafter referred to as the "state director") State House, Boston 33, Massachusetts, within five (5) days of his appointment.

4. Each local director is hereby directed to make a study and survey of the personnel, equipment, supplies and facilities of his city or town which may be useful or necessary in carrying out the emergency functions enumerated in Acts of 1950, chapter 639, section 1. Such study and survey shall be made and reported to the state director on forms to be prepared and furnished by the state director.

5. The state director shall furnish the same or similar forms to such departments, offices and agencies of the Commonwealth as, in his opinion, may have personnel, equipment, supplies or facilities useful or necessary in carrying out any of the emergency functions enumerated in Acts of 1950, chapter 639, section 1. The heads of such departments, offices and agencies shall make the necessary studies and surveys and report the results thereof to the state director on such forms.

6. The state director is further directed to prepare and submit to the Governor, after consultation with such experts as he may deem appropriate, a comprehensive plan and program pursuant to, and to implement, the provisions of Acts of 1950, chapter 639, for the civil defense of the Commonwealth.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and seventy-fifth.

By His Excellency the Governor, Paul A. Dever

Edward J. Cronin, Secretary of the Commonwealth