Civil Defense Letter to the Editor Template

Write to Your Elected Official before the 2024 Election

Here is a letter to the editor I wrote to my local newspaper. They published it last Easter. Did it change government policy? Who knows. But I did my duty. Feel free to use this letter as a template. Rewrite to your local civil defense reality.

Preparing for the Next Disaster

The protection of life and property is the most basic function government performs.

In all the demands on Berkeley County’s political leaders to do something about schools, planning and zoning, to attract new business, ensure clean water, lower tax rates and so forth, adequate emergency management planning to protect life and property can sometimes end up a lesser priority.

Historically, there is a high probability that disasters will strike, often when least expected, like at 4 am on an otherwise peaceful Sunday morning. Therefore, emergency management planning must be an on-going priority in local government.

But natural and manmade disasters happen every day. To prepare for them, county planners must ask the uncomfortable “What if?” questions.

What if the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) release electromagnet pulse (EMP) devices and knock out our electric grid? What if a 1,000-year flood releases 5 feet of water into downtown Martinsburg? What if multiple rail cars with toxic chemicals derail in downtown Martinsburg?

Uncomfortable as they are, these “What Ifs” need to be asked because they help plan for an improved response, to reduce panic, and to save lives and property..

One of the best ways for Berkeley County to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate future emergencies is to exercise their Emergency Operations Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and other disaster planning documents at least twice a year.

When I used to inspect county Emergency Operation Center (EOC) plans in the 1980’s, most had twenty years of dust on them. Trust this is not case at the Berkeley County EOC. Professional EOC’s are key to saving lives and property in thousands of toxic spills, floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, and other emergency situations. I pray the Berkeley County EOC is up to the task.

Hopefully, their emergency management plan and especially emergency contacts is current, continuity of operations plans are current, emergency supplies are organized, and redundant, mutual aid agreements are signed, and professionalism, not politics is the rule for hiring employees.

In the upcoming election, besides asking candidates questions about zoning, water, and schools, it might be beneficial to ask them what they plan to do to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and to mitigate the next disaster.

Given the consequences of their response, his or her answer to that question in terms of saved lives and property, may be the most important one of all.

Bruce Curley

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Phone Number

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Owner, American Tactical Civil Defense

Substack Writer: American Tactical Civil Defense, Poetslife.substack.com

Volunteer Vice President, The American Civil Defense Association (TACDA.ORG)

23 Year Civil Defense Blog Writer: poetslife.blogspot.com

Advisor, National Museum of Civil Defense, nationalmuseumofcivildefense.org