CONCERNING THIS BOOKLET: This booklet,"Highlights of the Decision Information Distribution System," describes a The DIDS system is intended to augment and improve the present system on which the A Defense Department request for funds to begin prototype deployment and testing of the new system was approved by Congress in late 1970. The Office of Civil Defense awarded a $2,720,012 prime contract to the Westinghouse Electric Company for installation of a lowfrequency radio station near Aberdeen, Maryland. It is expected to be completed and ready for testing in July 1972. When it is placed in regular operation, this station will greatly improve emergency warning and information service to about 50 million residents in 10 eastern seaboard States, from North Carolina to Connecticut. If the Edgewood station proves satisfactory, and if the complete DIDS system is later authorized and funded, the complete system could be in operation by 1977, at a total estimated cost of about $49 million. It would include Edgewood and nine other "distribution stations" scattered from coast to coast, two "control stations" in Missouri and Colorado, plus other facilities. This would provide coverage for all 48 contiguous States. Special arrangements would be necessary for Hawaii and Alaska. The Office of Civil Defense estimates that full deployment of the DIDS system, plus a possible later tie-in with home receivers, could save from 10 to 17 million additional lives in case a nuclear attack occurs; and that further expansion and refinement of the system could increase this to as many as 27 million lives. In many peacetime disasters also, the faster and more informative warning provided by the new system could reduce the loss of life and destruction of property. The principal advantages of an improved new system would be: Faster warning. Wider coverage. Greater reliability. More complete information furnished citizens. Capability of eventually including direct warning to the public through television sets. Capability of eventually integrating the DIDS system with the Safeguard antimissile system so that communities where incoming enemy missiles appear to be targeted can be given at least a few minutes advance warning. Supersedes MP-57 and MP-57A, dated December 1970, which may be used. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT "POSTURE STATEMENT" Excerpt from Secretary Laird's statement to Senate Armed One of the major objectives of our present program is to improve current warning systems in order to make possible the maximum use of existing shelter spaces. The main deficiencies of the present combination of Federal, State CURRENT WARNING SYSTEM The present attack warning system is a mixture of Federal, State, and local networks. It is made up of an alerting system and an information system. ALERTING SYSTEM The Federal portion, National Warning System (NAWAS), connects three National Warning Centers with approximately 1000 full-time State and local warning points. Warning officers at the Warning Centers initiate a voice warning message. State and local personnel at the 1000 warning points sound sirens or initiate action to sound sirens at these locations. required to sound the sirens locally. It takes about one minute for the message to reach the warning points. Additional time is NAWAS is a two-way, party-line telephone system. It may be used for natural disasters and other peacetime emergencies, as well as for a nuclear attack. NAWAS is leased from the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. The annual charge for this service was $1,217,342 in FY 1970, and $1,352,371 in FY 1971. |