N.Y. Defense Emergency Act 1951 784/51 § 2-a: Further declaration of purpose and findings relating to the protection of the people in the event of nuclear attack and recovery and reha...

§ 2-a. Further declaration of purpose and findings relating to the

protection of the people in the event of nuclear attack and recovery and

rehabilitation after attack. The legislature hereby finds and declares

that the aggressive forces of communism are employing threats of nuclear

attack to achieve their plan and purpose of world domination and to

confound the aspirations of free people everywhere. It is increasingly

apparent that effective fallout protection as an integral part of a

strong civil defense is essential to the nation's military defense, to

our negotiating strength, to the deterrence of nuclear aggression and to

our resistance to nuclear blackmail. In the event of attack, fallout

protection and a comprehensive civil defense program are essential to

minimize injury and loss of life and to make possible the recovery of

the people, the restoration and rehabilitation of the state's economy

and the preservation of the spiritual, cultural and political heritage

of our nation.

The entire population of the state is now exposed and vulnerable to

death or disability from any nuclear attack that might be launched

against us. While the radioactive fallout which follows the explosion of

nuclear weapons would create the most widespread danger faced by our

population in the event of a nuclear attack, the means for protecting

the state's population from such fallout are known and are feasible.

In furtherance of the national goal declared by the president of the

United States to reach for fallout protection for every American as

rapidly as possible and as an integral part of the state's comprehensive

civil defense program, a major objective of the state is to have for

each person in the state of New York fallout protection ready and

adequate for survival, which will make possible recovery and

rehabilitation in the event of nuclear attack.

This objective can be achieved only by a cooperative effort which

mobilizes the resources of individuals, business, labor, agriculture and

other private groups and government at every level--federal, state and

local. All levels of government must recognize and accept their mutual

obligations to plan, encourage and assist the orderly establishment of

adequate fallout shelters, readily accessible to all the people, but the

effectiveness of the joint effort, public and private, to protect

against the dangers of nuclear attack will depend in large measure on

the success and vigor with which local communities and families organize

for their survival.

The state must give leadership and direction in this important task of

establishing a strong civil defense and achieving fallout protection for

each person in the state. To this end the legislature has established a

broad coordinated civil defense program.

A primary consideration in this program for survival and recovery of

our state following a nuclear attack is the necessity for preservation

of our young people. Therefore, as an essential part of the coordinated

civil defense effort in each community, the authorities of public and

private schools, colleges and universities should provide fallout

protection in or near their buildings and the state should encourage and

assist financially through state civil defense aid the development of

such fallout protection. The state, by fostering fallout protection at

the schools, colleges and universities scattered over the length and

breadth of the state in every community, will not only aid in providing

protection for our young people but will also thereby provide a

direction and an awareness of the need for public and private action in

support of the civil defense effort.

In addition, as a part of this program, the state should

--encourage and assist private individuals to provide adequate shelter

protection for their families, either singly or in groups;

--encourage and foster the construction of shelters in all

publicly-assisted housing;

--encourage and assist landlords and employers to provide shelter

protection for their tenants and employees;

--encourage local offlcials and community leaders, within the

framework of a coordinated civil defense plan, to take positive steps to

promote and assist the development of shelter protection by the citizens

individually and collectively in each locality; and

--construct and install shelters on state-owned property to provide

protection for state workers and other occupants.

Furthermore, the state must cooperatively supplement the program being

provided and developed by the federal government and the state must

share with the federal government the responsibility of insuring that

all protective measures adopted reflect the latest techniques and

developments available.

At all times the objectives and planning of civil defense should be

directed to the survival not only of the people of the state but of

their way of life. Intensive efforts must be made to establish the means

and methods which will, in the event of nuclear attack, make possible

the recovery of the people and the rehabilitation of the economic and

social life of the state following any such attack.