Executive Order  No. 5: Organization and direction of police services in civil defense emergencies

WHEREAS, by Executive Order No. 3, issued October 18, 1950, the Governor established a Civilian War Aid Division within the Civil Defense Agency of the Commonwealth, assigned the Department of Public Welfare as the sponsoring agency for said Civilian War Aid Division, named the Commissioner of Public Welfare as the head, ex officio, of said Civilian War Aid Division and directed that each local organization for civil defense include, in so far as is practicable, a Civilian War Aid Division; and

WHEREAS, by said Executive Order No. 3, the governor also established nine regions within the Commonwealth for the purpose of administering the civil defense plan and program, created the post of Regional Director for each region and provided for a Board of Regional Co-ordinators for the Civilian War Aid Service in each region; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States, on December 16, 1950, did proclaim a state of national emergency and thereafter on the same date the Governor did proclaim that a state of emergency exists for the reason that the peace and security of the Commonwealth are endangered by the imminent threat of belligerent acts of enemies of the United States; and

WHEREAS, it is essential that adequate provisions be made for the organization, mobilization and utilization of all personnel and equipment within the Commonwealth which may be necessary or useful in carrying out the responsibilities and functions of the Civilian War Aid Divisions:

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 to cope with the existing state of emergency and as part of the comprehensive plan and program for the civil defense of the Commonwealth.

1.  The Civilian War Aid Divisions of the Civil Defense Agency of the Commonwealth and of the local organizations for civil defense shall make preparations to furnish the following services in event of disaster or catastrophe, in so far as their personnel and equipment permit: evacuee registration; emergency housing; feeding; clothing; financial assistance; rehabilitation.

2.  The following agencies of the Commonwealth are assigned as supporting agencies to assist the Department of Public Welfare, as sponsoring agency for the Civilian War Aid Division of the Civil Defense Agency of the Commonwealth, in the performance of such functions of said Civilian War Aid Division as may be related to the existing powers and duties of such agencies:

Department of Agriculture
    - Division of Markets

Department of Banking and Insurance

Department of Labor and Industries
    - Division of Employment Security
    - Division of the Necessaries of Life
    
Department of the State Auditor

Department of the State Treasurer

3.  Subject to the direction and control of the Commissioner of Public Welfare as head of the Civilian War Aid Division of the Civil Defense Agency of the Commonwealth, each Regional Director, with the assistance of his Regional Co-ordinators for the Civilian War Aid Service, shall:

1. Supervise and assist in the organization and training of the Civilian War Aid Divisions of the local organizations for civil defense.
2. Expedite the making of any study and survey of civilian war aid personnel and equipment required to be made under the provisions of Executive Order No. 1, issued September 8, 1950, or any other Executive Order hereafter issued.

4.  During the present state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor under the provisions of Acts of 1950, chapter 639, section 5, the Director of a local organization for civil defense may, when he, after consultation with the head of the Civilian War Aid Division of the local organization for civil defense, deems the civilian war aid facilities available in his city or town inadequate to deal with conditions existing therein as a result of disaster or catastrophe, request his Regional Director to mobilize and dispatch additional civilian war aid assistance to such
city or town.

Upon receipt of such request, the Regional Director shall have authority to mobilize and dispatch to such city or town, with the approval of the State Director, such additional civilian war aid assistance from any city or town within the region as the Regional Director deems necessary.

5.  During said state of emergency a Regional Director may, when he, after consultation with his Regional Co-ordinators for the Civilian War Aid Service, deems the civilian war aid facilities available in his region inadequate to deal with conditions existing in a city or town therein as a result of disaster or catastrophe, request the State Director to mobilize and dispatch additional civilian war aid assistance to such city or town.

Upon receipt of such request, the State Director shall have authority to mobilize and dispatch to such city or town, with the approval of the Governor, such additional civilian war aid assistance as the State Director deems necessary.

6.  Civilian war aid personnel and equipment dispatched to a city or town pursuant to the provisions of this order shall be under the command and control of the head of the Civilian War Aid Division of the local organization for civil defense.  If the local organization for civil defense does not have a Civilian War Aid Division, the Regional Director shall designate the person to be in command and control of the mobilized civilian war aid personnel and equipment.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston this eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-one 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