U.S. civil defence

Press, 23 August 1984, Page 20

U.S. civil defence

Sir,—The article on American preparations for civil defence in the event of nuclear war (August 18) was informative, but rather misleading in some respects. It conveyed the impression that evacuation of the general population is the main priority of the planners. In fact, planning emphasis is directed to the preservation of the country’s elite. The $169 million budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the current fiscal year — about 75 cents for each American — can be compared with the $146 million appropriated for this agency in the fiscal year of 1983 to implement Presidential jMirective-58 which provides fop/plans to evacuate

selected government personnel. The Presidential directive-58 programme also received another $7l million in the fiscal year of 1983 through Department of Defence funding. The Reagan Administration’s civil defence planning parallels its plans for nuclear war fighting which include the current upgrading of the Nurrungor base in nearby Australia.—Yours, etc., D. K. SMALL. August 20, 1984.