Civilian Protection, Office of

The Office of Civilian Protection (OCP) was the primary operating unit of the Division of Civilian Protection. The OCP recruited, trained, and coordinated the efforts of over 600,000 volunteers organized to prevent and respond to aerial bombings during World War II. Created in May 1941, the office worked in conjunction with the State Police, the State Guard, and the Civil Air Patrol to protect New York from enemy air attacks and to provide a rapid response to the emergencies which could have been caused by such attacks. Other units and officials of the Division of Civilian Protection which supported the work of the OCP included the Air Raid Center, State Gas Officer, Forest Fire Fighters Service, State Property Officer, Emergency Medical Service, Emergency Welfare Service, State Fire Administrator, and the Office of Highway Repair and Debris Clearance. Each local war council was encouraged to appoint a director of civil defense who reported to the OCP's director. The OCP director assisted in creating local civil defense units (which reported to their local war councils), directed the training of these units, and coordinated existing municipal and private services to assist with civil defense needs. The local organizations organized auxiliary fire and police units, established air observation posts, and appointed street wardens. Typical activities included practice brown and blackouts, aircraft spotting and identification drills, incendiary bomb extinguishment training, emergency medical training, and evacuation planning. While the State War Council issued OCP civil defense directives, municipalities were permitted to pass their own regulations as long as they were consistent with those of the state. Furthermore, the state OCP and all its subordinate civil defense units reported to the Eastern Defense Command of the U.S. Army, and it was the Army which would initiate blackouts. Though the OCP never responded to a bombing attack, many local units did respond to other kinds of emergencies such as train wrecks, floods, or blizzards, providing medical service, evacuation assistance, and supply delivery. The OCP's activities began to be curtailed in late 1943 as the threat of German bombing diminished, and the organization ceased operations completely in October 1945.