The most important part of civilian defense was air raid protection and by November of 1941, all the states had defense councils, with local air raid wardens and auxiliary firemen appointed. An early Office of Civil Defense publication, “What to do in an Air Raid,” proclaimed that “the safest place in an air raid was in the home.” The pamphlet advised Americans to “stay away from windows and crouch under stout tables” for protection. This Air Raid Instructions Card was carried by Americans in their cars and told them what to do if they heard an air raid warning while driving. They were to pull to the side of the road and stop, leave lanes and intersections open for emergency vehicles, shut off the motor and lights and open the windows, get out and take shelter if it was nearby, and otherwise crouch down in the vehicle. They could resume travel on the all clear signal. The card also provided the radio station to tune to for more information.
WWII Air Raid Warning Instructions Card. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ca. 1941. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l05-170/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
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