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CHAPTER 3

KNOW ABOUT WARNING

SUMMARY

BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

1.  Learn what outdoor warning signals are used in your community, what they sound like, what they mean, and what actions you should take when you hear them.

2.  Make sure you know the difference between the Attack Warning Signal and the Attention or Alert Signal (if both are used in your community).

DURING AN EMERGENCY

1.  When you hear the warning signals, or warning information is broadcast, take prompt action.

2.  If the Attack Warning Signal sounds, go to a fallout shelter immediately (unless your local government has told you to do something else).  After you are in shelter, listen to a radio for more information and instructions.

3.  If there is no public or private shelter you can go to, try to improvise some fallout protection.  As a last resort, take cover in the best available place.

4.  If there should be a nuclear flash—­especially if you feel the warmth from it—­take cover instantly, and then move to a fallout shelter later.

KNOW ABOUT WARNING

An enemy attack on the United States probably would be preceded by a period of international tension or crisis.  This crisis period would help alert all citizens to the possibility of attack.

If an attack actually occurs, it is almost certain that incoming enemy planes and missiles would be detected by our networks of warning stations in time for citizens to get into shelters or at least take cover.  This warning time might be as little as 5-15 minutes in some locations, or as much as an hour or more in others.

How you received warning of an attack would depend on where you happened to be at that time.  You might hear the warning given on radio or television, or even by word-of-mouth.  Or your first notice of attack might come from the outdoor warning system in your own city, town or village.

Many U.S. cities and towns have outdoor warning systems, using sirens, whistles, horns or bells.  Although they have been installed mainly to warn citizens of enemy attack, some local governments also use them in connection with natural disasters and other peacetime catastrophes.

Different cities and towns are using their outdoor warning systems in different ways.  Most local governments, however, have decided to use a certain signal to warn people of an enemy attack, and a different signal to notify them of a peacetime disaster.

THE STANDARD WARNING SIGNALS

The two “standard” signals that have been adopted in most communities are these: