








Central City's planning process began long before any crisis period. The civil defense director met with the sheriff, the police and fire chiefs, military commanders, and representatives from local government and the highway and utility departments. Each of these entities would help staff the emergency operating center and use their personnel as reliable sources of collecting information. This collection phase is the first step towards effectively managing a hectic post-attack period and it is addressed in several films. Facts Make the Difference, an Office of Civil Defense film from 1966, in particular discusses which data collection methods and sources are most credible. (2) Here, data collection is shown to function best as an exercise in cooperation between first responders. The second phase of this process, the host explains, is the physical display of all collected data. In an ideal setup, large maps with movable icons and equally large chalkboards will the walls of a civil defense headquarters. These can be quickly and easily updated when information or conditions change. Particular attention is given to different types of maps that can be best utilized. The host acknowledges that, due to budget reasons, many areas may not have such an elaborate display. In a pinch, a standard bulletin board and pieces of felt or magnets can be used. In extreme circumstances, white sheets and brown paper bags can serve as both overhead projector screens and display surfaces. The need for the information presented in Display of Operational Data never dissipated and as a result, the film would not be declared obsolete like many others in the 1960's. Instead it could be obtained through armed forces catalogs into the 1970's. (3)
Display of Operational Data may be viewed, in its entirety, HERE.